What's killing
p. 36 · Read in the full issue
Howe's cows?
What’s killing Lord Howe Island’s cattle? About 15 head of cattle have died over the past five years, five of them late last year, all of no apparent cause.
Locals blame poisonings, but no one is sure which plant, tree or shrub is to blame.
Some people are pointing a finger at Oleander bushes, others blame lead poisoning con tracted when cattle lick old batteries in search of salt.
Whatever it is, the problem is serious on the small island, and milk stocks have been depleted. Islanders are talking of flying part of the stomach of the latest dead’un to Sydney for analysis.