Croften Weed (Ageratina adenophora (Asteraceae family) will be flowering during August/September with mature plants producing between 10,000 and 100,000 seeds per year.  Since its escape in about 1900 it has spread from Central Queensland to south of Wollongong in NSW.  There are also isolated infestations on the Northern and Central Tablelands of NSW.  This weed poses a major threat to horse health, with horses which have eaten the plant developing acute oedema (swelling of the lungs).  The first sign is coughing which is more pronounced by exercise.  It can cause lung and heart damage.  Death from respiratory failure is the eventual result with affected horses often suddenly collapsing and dying while being worked.

The condition is known in Australia as “Numinbah Disease” or Tallebudgera Horse Disease”.  Check out your paddocks – keep them clear of Croften Weed as horses may preferentially graze the plants even when there is plenty of feed available.  Even eight weeks of contact with this weed can cause sickness in horses.

 

I, personally went on a beautiful trail ride last week, going through lots of overgrown trails covered with Lantana and lots of other weeds – I noticed that my horse was picking out a leaf which wasn’t unlike the Lantana, but was obviously different.  I grabbed a piece of it and took it to the local Council’s weeds officer.  He confirmed it was Croften Weed. He also pointed out that this year will be a bad year for it as its been so mild leading up to spring.  The horse didn’t pick much, so he should be fine, but it just goes to show that sometimes our equine friends don’t always know what is best for them.  And we, as keepers of our treasured friends need to be vigilant.  Please go on-line and educate yourself about Croften weed and get rid of it from your property ASAP.

 

In my dealings with people doing Barefoot Trimming and Horse Schooling, I have seen the occasional weed, but never put much thought into what this evil weed can do if it is left unchecked.  I will be pointing this out to everyone I come into contact with in the future.

 

Kind Regards

 

Bronwyn Flinn

Stonecrest Equine