Inkbessie bos

Ten cattle belonging to a farmer in the Lichtenburg area recently died after consuming the extremely toxic inkberry. Poisoning by this invasive plant, originally from Brazil, typically occurs in June and July among cattle when conditions are drier.

Cestrum laevigatum, also known as the inkberry (or ink bush), is an evergreen shrub that grows approximately 1 to 2 meters tall. In coastal regions, it can form trees up to 15 meters in height.

This is what the flowers of the poisonous shrub look like.

The shrub was originally brought to South Africa as an ornamental garden plant and to serve as a windbreak. It is identified by its elliptical, glossy green leaves, green to black olive-shaped berries, thin pale gray bark, yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, and an unpleasant sharp odor when the leaves and/or stems are crushed.

At this time of year, grazing is often completely depleted, and livestock graze indiscriminately, consuming the plant. The concentration of toxins – gitogenin and digitogenin – is also at its highest in the green berries during this period. These toxins cause acute liver damage, which leads to sudden deaths.

Symptoms

The inkberry spreads easily by birds that eat the berries and excrete the seeds. Initially confined to parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the inkberry is now also found along the Vaal River in the Northern Free State and North West Province.

The berries of the inkberry plant.

Typical symptoms of poisoning resemble colic: restlessness, teeth grinding, and groaning. The animal may kick at its belly and stand hunched over. Other symptoms include eye discharge, constipation, poor coordination, sunken and staring eyes.

The poison acts quickly, and animals often die before any symptoms are observed. There is no cure for a poisoned animal, but in cases of low-dose poisoning, an animal may survive after three or four days with veterinary care.

Prevention

The berries can be poisonous to cattle, sheep, and goats. To prevent poisoning cases, avoid grazing in paddocks where inkberry is present. Chemical control of the bush is also advised. A mixture of Browser, crop oil, and Ecoblue in water is recommended. The chemical should be applied using a backpack sprayer.

It is important to limit the application of the herbicide to the target plant to avoid harming beneficial trees like sweet thorn and white stinkwood, and to avoid wasting costly chemicals.

Article written by Dawid van Heerden and published in NWK Arena 2024.

For more information, or if you have any concerns or need assistance with disease prevention, treatment protocols, or selecting the correct products, don’t hesitate to reach out to our resident livestock vet, Dr. Izak van Rensburg, at:

WhatsApp: 081 031 4694

Email: izakjvr@hotmail.com