Why is it suddenly an issue ? :
Ourselves and our members have often encountered comments along the lines of:
"Don't you know this has been around since the 1930's???"...
Our response to this is that: Though this weed was introduced into the USA in the 1930's... it was not until the 1990's that it was determined to be an issue to livestock.
This is not an opinion. This is a documented fact which, can be referenced in UF'S Article on Creeping Indigo provided in the link below.
The part of the article that addresses this matter reads:
"Dr. Morton explained that creeping indigo had first been imported into the United States in 1933 and established at (embarrassingly) the University of Florida in Gainesville, so that its supposed utility as livestock forage and ground cover could be studied.When it was found that rabbits died when they grazed the experimental plots, the project was quickly abandoned! The neglected but apparently hardly plants escaped containment, invaded locally..."
Beginning in 1973, a University of Miami botanist, Julia Morton, began to walk the properties on which these deaths (Grove poisoning deaths) were occurring. She noticed an abundance of wild indigo plants (Indigofera suffruticosa) and initially supposed that these were the culprits.
By the 1980s, however, Dr. Morton had investigated many more incidents and had become convinced that the condition was actually caused by a different indigo herb, ***CREEPING INDIGO*** (also known as trailing indigo; Indigofera spicata), that had widely invaded local pastures and was being ENTHUSIASTICALLY eaten by horses.
In 1987 she decided to present her findings at a local meeting of concerned equine veterinarians and horseowners.
Dr. Morton’s creeping indigo theory WAS NOT WELL ACCEPTED with many attendees holding fast to the notion that toxic chemicals sprayed on trees in local fruit groves were the problem – thus the name “Grove poisoning”."
By the early 1990s even the doubters had acknowledged the obvious and, although feeding trials have thankfully not been performed in horses to formally establish cause and effect, it is now generally accepted that creeping indigo causes the neurologic syndrome previously known as Grove poisoning."
"Don't you know this has been around since the 1930's???"...
Our response to this is that: Though this weed was introduced into the USA in the 1930's... it was not until the 1990's that it was determined to be an issue to livestock.
This is not an opinion. This is a documented fact which, can be referenced in UF'S Article on Creeping Indigo provided in the link below.
The part of the article that addresses this matter reads:
"Dr. Morton explained that creeping indigo had first been imported into the United States in 1933 and established at (embarrassingly) the University of Florida in Gainesville, so that its supposed utility as livestock forage and ground cover could be studied.When it was found that rabbits died when they grazed the experimental plots, the project was quickly abandoned! The neglected but apparently hardly plants escaped containment, invaded locally..."
Beginning in 1973, a University of Miami botanist, Julia Morton, began to walk the properties on which these deaths (Grove poisoning deaths) were occurring. She noticed an abundance of wild indigo plants (Indigofera suffruticosa) and initially supposed that these were the culprits.
By the 1980s, however, Dr. Morton had investigated many more incidents and had become convinced that the condition was actually caused by a different indigo herb, ***CREEPING INDIGO*** (also known as trailing indigo; Indigofera spicata), that had widely invaded local pastures and was being ENTHUSIASTICALLY eaten by horses.
In 1987 she decided to present her findings at a local meeting of concerned equine veterinarians and horseowners.
Dr. Morton’s creeping indigo theory WAS NOT WELL ACCEPTED with many attendees holding fast to the notion that toxic chemicals sprayed on trees in local fruit groves were the problem – thus the name “Grove poisoning”."
By the early 1990s even the doubters had acknowledged the obvious and, although feeding trials have thankfully not been performed in horses to formally establish cause and effect, it is now generally accepted that creeping indigo causes the neurologic syndrome previously known as Grove poisoning."
OTHER VARYING FACTORS SPECULATED TO BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE OUTBREAK:
In the first public Creeping Indigo seminar hosted by UF on April 29, 2015. They advised also that Creeping Indigo has only RECENTLY been included in veterinary curriculums (2014). That is why many vets in the field TODAY, still do not recognize this culprit and may have, in the past, innocently MIS-DIAGNOSED a Creeping Indigo poisoned animal with many other illnesses that have similar symptoms. Such as: such as Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis(EPM), Eastern Equine Encephalitis(EEE), Rhino Virus and many other illnesses.
In addition, UF has speculated that the unusually warm winters we have had in FL the last few years (2012-2014) may be a huge contributing factor to the spike of outbreaks we are experiencing currently.
They also told us to note that as horses eat this weed- they are re-seeding it. So, as the years/months go on- the quantity and availability of CI increases. Because, some animals digestive tracks, like the horse's, are less efficient and can help SPREAD the seeds.
Meanwhile, animals with ruminant digestive systems like cattle, break the seeds down by the time it passes through their system. So, it is less likely to be in their manure. It is also believed that ruminant digestive systems have to eat twice as much of this weed to become ill due to the high level of efficiency this manner of digestion provides before the toxin reaches their intestines to be absorbed into their systems.
It is important to note that CI's toxicity SPIKES when it is STRESSED. Things such as a cold snap, a drought or even a mower can cause this. So, while your animals may have survived last year with access to the weed... THIS YEAR could be different due to one of these stressors or the rise in the infestation ratio year over year. There are many varying factors.
Indospicine is a CUMULATIVE toxin. Which means, that it attaches to the animals tissues and does not pass through their bodies like alcohol per say. Therefore, it builds to deadly levels over a LIFETIME. The toxins continue to break down tissues once inside their body- even after removal from the weed.
How much has to be consumed in order to cause illness has not yet been studied and or published.
In the first public Creeping Indigo seminar hosted by UF on April 29, 2015. They advised also that Creeping Indigo has only RECENTLY been included in veterinary curriculums (2014). That is why many vets in the field TODAY, still do not recognize this culprit and may have, in the past, innocently MIS-DIAGNOSED a Creeping Indigo poisoned animal with many other illnesses that have similar symptoms. Such as: such as Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis(EPM), Eastern Equine Encephalitis(EEE), Rhino Virus and many other illnesses.
In addition, UF has speculated that the unusually warm winters we have had in FL the last few years (2012-2014) may be a huge contributing factor to the spike of outbreaks we are experiencing currently.
They also told us to note that as horses eat this weed- they are re-seeding it. So, as the years/months go on- the quantity and availability of CI increases. Because, some animals digestive tracks, like the horse's, are less efficient and can help SPREAD the seeds.
Meanwhile, animals with ruminant digestive systems like cattle, break the seeds down by the time it passes through their system. So, it is less likely to be in their manure. It is also believed that ruminant digestive systems have to eat twice as much of this weed to become ill due to the high level of efficiency this manner of digestion provides before the toxin reaches their intestines to be absorbed into their systems.
It is important to note that CI's toxicity SPIKES when it is STRESSED. Things such as a cold snap, a drought or even a mower can cause this. So, while your animals may have survived last year with access to the weed... THIS YEAR could be different due to one of these stressors or the rise in the infestation ratio year over year. There are many varying factors.
Indospicine is a CUMULATIVE toxin. Which means, that it attaches to the animals tissues and does not pass through their bodies like alcohol per say. Therefore, it builds to deadly levels over a LIFETIME. The toxins continue to break down tissues once inside their body- even after removal from the weed.
How much has to be consumed in order to cause illness has not yet been studied and or published.
UF assured us April 29, 2015 that they will be placing it on the noxious weed posters, handbooks and websites as a poisonous plant found in the state of Florida as soon as possible. They also assured it would be cascaded immediately to the Florida Veterinary Boards as they ONLY THIS YEAR recognized Creeping Indigo as a CRITICAL ISSUE.
They are beginning further studies into the weed JUNE 2015 and will continue to uncover findings on it's toxicity, recovery regimens and eradication practices and promise to share with us and the public as soon answers.
They are beginning further studies into the weed JUNE 2015 and will continue to uncover findings on it's toxicity, recovery regimens and eradication practices and promise to share with us and the public as soon answers.
