Fern As Feed
Sir,—In two veterinary books which are stated to deal particularly with New Zealand conditions, bracken fem is stated to be poisonous to cattle. My experience with this fern is that no cattle will scour if they can get access to it, and a few feeds of fem will cure the very worst case of scouring. But in all places where there Is always plenty of good water and rock salt easily available to cattle, fern makes very valuable roughage for them. In fact they often prefer it to good hay: but to get full benefit from it English rock salt should go with it to counteract its astringent effect by making cattle drink plenty of water. I consider the shrub named Tutu is the cause of most of the deaths of cattle in our back country. Ngaio Is also very pois"nous. Properly handled fern is an asset to cattle, not a menace—I am, etc., G. F. MOORE.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, 21 July 1950, Page 4
Word Count
160Fern As Feed Wanganui Chronicle, 21 July 1950, Page 4
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