Plant poisoning of livestock in New Zealand

Abstract

ExtractBritish settlers introduced large numbers of grazing animals, notably sheep, cattle and horses, to New Zealand during the latter half of the 19th century. They also brought many new trees, garden plants and grasses from their homeland, which soon became widespread in this country. The introduction of grazing animals unacquainted with indigenous plant varieties set the scene for inevitable and often serious stock losses from plant poisoning. Problems were further exacerbated by the large amount of stock droving that took place and the frequent absence of fences to contain stock on safe pastures during the early years following settlement.