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final report Project Code: B.AHE.0246 Prepared by: Ian Perkins, Andrew Perkins, Thomas Perkins and Nigel Perkins Date published: March 2015 ISBN: 9781741918823 PUBLISHED BY Meat and Livestock Australia Limited Locked Bag 991 NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2059 Impact of fluoroacetate toxicity in grazing cattle Meat & Livestock Australia acknowledges the matching funds provided by the Australian Government to support the research and development detailed in this publication. This publication is published by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited ABN 39 081 678 364 (MLA). Care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However MLA cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained in the publication. You should make your own enquiries before making decisions concerning your interests. Reproduction in whole or in part of this publication is prohibited without prior written consent of MLA. B.AHE.0246 Final Report - Impact of fluoroacetate in grazing cattle Executive summary This project was undertaken to investigate the production and economic impacts of fluoroacetate toxicity in grazing cattle in affected regions of Australia Objectives The project objectives are to quantify the production and economic impacts of fluoroacetate toxicity in grazing cattle including: • Direct production losses including cattle mortalities; • Direct management costs; • Opportunity costs associated with management conducted to prevent toxicity; • Geographic location; and • Numbers of livestock affected. Methods The project was conducted through participatory and literature research and involved a process of literary review, engagement with landholders and others involved in the cattle industry throughout Australia, conduct of field visits and data analysis.. The project team identified potentially affected regions, selected properties within these regions and conducted two surveys on selected properties to collect information from affected and non-affected landholders. Discussions were held with affected landholders, government and industry advisors and researchers and specialist toxicologists. Case studies were selected following the conduct of surveys and these properties were visited and data collected to form case studies. Data collected from the surveys and the case studies were utilised in statistical and economic analysis to quantify the impact of fluoroacetate toxicity in the affected regions. The livestock production and management results presented in the report are based on information supplied by affected landholders through the survey process and through property visits and discussions. Results Survey findings suggest that in each of the three regions, a substantial proportion of cattle producers indicate that they are affected by fluoroacetate containing plants and that fluoroacetate toxicity is perceived to be an important cause of a range of adverse impacts. The impact of fluoroacetate toxicity has real economic consequences in the Desert Uplands and North Queensland regions of Queensland and the Georgina Basin in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Toxicity in these areas is caused by two different plants – Gastrolobium grandiflorum (Heartleaf Poison Bush) in the Desert Uplands and North Queensland and Acacia georginae (Georgina Gidgee) in the Georgina Basin. Page 2 of 103 B.AHE.0246 Final Report - Impact of fluoroacetate in grazing cattle Increased mortality rates and reduced stocking rates are the most consistent and immediate impacts of fluoroacetate toxicity. Restrictions on management options including mustering and selling times, costs of management strategies and reductions in productivity also contribute to production and economic impacts. The issues associated with fluoracetate toxicity are quite different in the different regions. In the regions affected by Gastrolobium (Desert Uplands and North Queensland) the landholder responses indicate that the problem presents impacts typically associated with a poisonous plant, (increased mortality rates, and productivity losses) albeit with rather unpredictable consequences. Acacia georgina as well as being a poisonous plant is also described by landholders as an important source of high quality nutrition and this results in a more complicated set of circumstances. All affected producers surveyed reported making management changes and adaptations as a result of the toxicity problems and a number of producers reported that parts of their properties are unused due to the presence of fluoroacetate containing plants. It is estimated that Fluoroacetate toxicity has the potential to affect approximately 2.9% of the Australian herd and currently costs the industry approximately $45 million annually due to increased death rates and associated productivity impacts. The impacts locally are highly significant with stock losses of over 20% recorded on individual properties and the potential for increased productivity reaching levels of 70 to 100%. The impact of an ongoing high mortality rate in all affected areas has economic, social, welfare and emotional impacts on the landholders, livestock managers and on the livestock. Recommendations 1. It is recommended that identification, documentation, communication and implementation of regionally implemented best management practices be conducted as an interactive process with affected landholders. 2. It is recommended that Research leading to a better understanding of the method of poisoning and the relationship between the plant and the animals be supported. 3. The development and communication of a post mortem methodology and a key to identifying post mortem characteristics of fluoroacetate poisoning. 4. It is recommended that research is continued in the process of developing or discovering a rumen micro-organism which will detoxify fluoroacetate in the rumen and to examine the feasibility of the use of intra ruminal detoxification. Page 3 of 103 B.AHE.0246 Final Report - Impact of fluoroacetate in grazing cattle Acknowledgements The LPM team would like to gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the producers in all regions involved in this study. Producers completed surveys, attended meetings, welcomed team members to their homes and showed them around their country, all gladly and with a very co-operative spirit. This helped to make the conduct of this project a pleasure for all involved. LPM team members also acknowledge the willing input and assistance of a wide range of researchers, extension officers, botanists and livestock disease specialists. The fluoroacetate problem involves a large area throughout Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia and assistance has been received from people in all these areas. The initiative of MLA in committing resources to this project and to the affected cattle industry is gratefully acknowledged. Page 4 of 103 B.AHE.0246 Final Report - Impact of fluoroacetate in grazing cattle Table of Contents Page Executive summary ................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... 4 List of Figures ........................................................................................................... 9 1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 12 1.1 Background ................................................................................................. 12 1.2 Project objectives ....................................................................................... 12 2 Literature review ......................................................................................... 13 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 13 2.2 Brief review of 1080 .................................................................................... 13 2.2.1 What does 1080 do at the cellular level .................................................. 13 2.2.2 Clinical signs .......................................................................................... 14 2.2.3 Secondary toxicity .................................................................................. 14 2.2.4 Chronic effects ....................................................................................... 15 2.2.5 Diagnosis ................................................................................................ 15 2.2.6 Treatment ............................................................................................... 16 2.3 Sodium monofluoroacetate in plants ....................................................... 16 2.3.1 Web resources useful for identification of plants .................................... 20 3 Methodology ............................................................................................... 21 3.1 Methodology overview ............................................................................... 21 3.2 Selection of regions ................................................................................... 22 3.3 Selection of properties ............................................................................... 23 3.4 Identification of contact details ................................................................. 23 3.5 Stage 1 ........................................................................................................