Thread: Trivia and other useless but interesting items

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

There are 140 known species of grain crops which were grown across Australia by Aboriginal people before whites came in and ruined the place with their hard-hoofed animals which ripped the crops out by the roots, so they died out.

They haven't died out, I'm growing some of them.

Most of the native grain crops were perennials and gluten-free, meaning they only needed to be planted once and could be repeatedly harvested. Harvested grains were ground into flour and used to make cakes and other foods, which could be stored for long periods.
King, the survivor of the Burke and Wills expedition, reported seeing an estimated four tons of flour in one native house alone on Cooper Creek. Meanwhile, Burke and Wills were starving because they refused to learn how the Aborigines were thriving with bumper crops while they were dying.

They did not know how to learn from an 'inferior race' in that situation.

Unfortunately, modern farmers have not adopted native grain crops, which are suited to the landscape, and continue to focus on imported crops, which require large quantities of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Not a clever country.

There are farmers who are well on the way with a more wholistic approach with native herbs and grasses and they are doing very nicely.

DL

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

There are 140 known species of grain crops which were grown across Australia by Aboriginal people before whites came in and ruined the place with their hard-hoofed animals which ripped the crops out by the roots, so they died out. Most of the native grain crops were perennials and gluten-free, meaning they only needed to be planted once and could be repeatedly harvested. Harvested grains were ground into flour and used to make cakes and other foods, which could be stored for long periods.
King, the survivor of the Burke and Wills expedition, reported seeing an estimated four tons of flour in one native house alone on Cooper Creek. Meanwhile, Burke and Wills were starving because they refused to learn how the Aborigines were thriving with bumper crops while they were dying.
Unfortunately, modern farmers have not adopted native grain crops, which are suited to the landscape, and continue to focus on imported crops, which require large quantities of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Not a clever country.

A native type of millet. You might be interested in reading "Dark Emus".

Originally Posted by Saitch

From Qld Health.
Bat

or other animal blood, urine, and

faeces are

not considered to

be

infectious.

Department of Health | Rabies Virus and Other Lyssavirus (Including Australian Bat Lyssavirus) Exposures and Infections

I won't be taking the risk, I'll not be licking any bat poo.
Have you got a picture of bat poo? Just so I know what to avoid.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

A native type of millet. You might be interested in reading "Dark Emus".

Reading it now, actually, very interesting.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

A native type of millet. You might be interested in reading "Dark Emus".

Only one Emu.

DL

Originally Posted by Saitch

From Qld Health.
Bat

or other animal blood, urine, and

faeces are

not considered to

be

infectious.

Department of Health | Rabies Virus and Other Lyssavirus (Including Australian Bat Lyssavirus) Exposures and Infections

Yes, I've seen that before as I'm actually a vaccinated bat carer, so I've had the vaccination - which reminds me that I need a renewal before the breeding season in November.
Sorry, I didn't explain that well in my previous post. I was referring to horses getting it from infected bats by grazing under trees where an infected bat may defecate or even die.
As for humans, the three confirmed cases all came not from defecation but from being bitten or scratched by an infected bat, receiving saliva and failing to immediately go to a doctor and be vaccinated, which should have saved them. The virus is not known to have passed directly from bat to human by defecation, but is believed to have done so to grazing horses, according to my BIL who is a vet with actual experience with lyssavirus in horses.
It's ironical that people obsess about 1% of bats being infected, when the much more likely threat is from their household dog, as dogs are the main carriers of rabies.
It's particularly a good idea to get the rabies vaccination before traveling overseas, where people are much more likely to encounter a rabid street dog.

BTW Ian there is nothing photogenic about bat ****, take my word for it.

I was under the impression that rabies was not present in Australia, hece the very rigorous quarantine regime on cats and dogs? But you are absolutely right about overseas.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I was under the impression that rabies was not present in Australia, hece the very rigorous quarantine regime on cats and dogs? But you are absolutely right about overseas.

Not known in dogs in this country, but how often do we test dogs, foxes and other mammals? Known in 1% of bats.
Vaccination for rabies is a wise precaution after any animal bite, I think.

Department of Health | Rabies, Australian bat lyssavirus and other lyssaviruses