The smell of fermenting indigo was so noxious and offensive to people that the association between the production of indigo and its effect on animals is also quite interesting. Indigo was found to be a natural insect repellent. Field hands working in the rice paddies and with indigo were far less susceptible to contracting malaria since the indigo smell either killed or warded off mosquitoes. Horsemen rubbed their horses bridals with indigo as an insect repellent to against flies. Buzzards were also observed avoiding carrion close to indigo dye pits.
Farm Animals on plantations were kept well away from the indigo fermenting dye vats. Owner Eliza Pinckney wrote that, The odor from the rotting weeds drew flies and other insects by the thousands, greatly increasing the chances of the spread of diseases. Animals and poultry...likewise suffered, and it was all but impossible to keep livestock on or near the indigo manufacturing site.
In 1925 a creeping species of indigo, in the legume family, and native to Africa was introduced into Florida as a ground cover and cattle fodder. The plant was found to be highly toxic, killing rabbits, goats, sheep, and cattle. Pigs refused to eat it. Creeping indigo was hard to get rid of. Even today farmers in Florida still report incidents of livestock being poisoned by creeping indigo.
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| Morton, J. F. 1989. Creeping indigo (Indigofera spicata Forsk.) (Fabaceae) – A hazard to herbivores in Florida. Econ. Bot. 43:314-327. |
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