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PLEASE NOTE:
"Poisonous" does not mean deadly. Some manifestations of toxicity are subtle. The dose, as always, determines if a plant is safe source of nutrients or a toxic hazard.

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BRIEF: Do cycads pose a risk to livestock?


QUESTION:
I am trying to find out the toxological risk of Cycads to livestock any assistance you can give would be appreciated.

ANSWER:
Lots of livestock have been lost to cycads in Australia. Cycas and Macozamia species have both severe liver toxins () and some kind of neurotoxin. See: pp388-389 in Cheeke's Natural Toxicants in Feeds, Forages, and Poisonous Plants (1998); pp337-347 in Keeler, et al. 1978 Effects of Poisonous Plants on livestock (for Hooper's article on cycads)