Charleville meat processor John Burey is hoping the cane toad's medicinal qualities will help him secure a huge export deal when he travels to Beijing for trade talks next month. "At this stage, it would seem the demand for our cane toads is quite substantial," he said. The Chinese have used toad poison as an expectorant, heart stimulant and as a diuretic. It has also been used as a remedy for toothache and sinusitis.Mr Burey said cane toad meat was also popular.
"The skin, organs and gut are also used for traditional medicines," he said.It could help rid the state of a population believed to have exceeded more than 200 million since its infamous introduction to control the sugar cane beetle in 1935.
Mr Burey said an export deal could result in collection depots being established up and down the Queensland coast." It would be like collecting aluminium cans, people could bring them to us and we would pay per animal or per kilo," he said. Mr Burey said his company, United Game Processors, already processed kangaroo, pig, camel, donkey and buffalo meat, but wanted to come up with something different. He has met with Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries staff about paperwork needed to export the animals. He said the toad toxin was considered a class one drug - like heroin - and he needed a special permit to send it overseas.
via www.news.com.au
Deja vu...
Posted by Tony Peacock, founder of 'Feral Thoughts'
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