January 2024 15 VACCINATION BOOKS The LAST ORDERS for 2023 for vaccination books will be 30 November. No orders will be accepted after this – this is to ensure that stock will be dispatched by 15 December 2023. Orders for 2024 will resume on 16 January. To order/for more information contact Debbie Breeze on 012 346 1150 or debbie@sava.co.za Article Verbesina encelioides belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is an aggressive weed that invades pastures, orchards, and forest areas in tropical and subtropical regions. It can survive under various climatic conditions, including droughts and high temperatures. A single flower can produce 600 to 2100 seeds, which are readily dispersed by light winds and can easily adhere to wool, clothing, fibrous material, and coats of animals. Description of the plant • It is an erect annual, herbaceous plant typically reaching heights of 0.3-1.6 meters. • The lower leaves branch opposite from the stem and the upper leaves are arranged alternately. Figure 3: Different parts of Verbesina encelioides. aThe stems and leaves are covered in short, dense hairs. white hairs bThe leaves are triangular-shaped with coarsely, unevenly serrated margins. cThe flowers are yellow resembling small sunflowers. dThe seeds are greyish brown, flat, winged along the margins and covered with fine hairs-like. Current cases of toxicity in sheep In 2016, hay baled in Baltimore, Limpopo province, resulted in the death of sheep. After inspection, it was found to be heavily contaminated with Verbesina encelioides. More recently, in July 2023, sudden deaths in sheep at Graafwater, Western Cape were reported. A post-mortem conducted by the veterinarian revealed lesions consistent with Verbesina encelioides poisoning, which was also present in the vicinity. a b c d >>> 16
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