ANIMAL NUTRITION FOR VETERINARIANS - ACTU AL CASES - LETHAL INTOXICATION OF GOATS BY BRANCHES OF YEW WITHDRAWN FROM A GARDEN

Mini goats (n = 40) were kept in a paddock. During October hay and sup plementary mixed feed were given in a addition to grass; water was ava ilable ad libitum. About 3 hours after a last control (at about 2 p. m .) 8 animals were found dead and further 3 in a moribund condition; 2 of them died within 2 hours and the last one during the following nigh t. Branches of yew were found in the paddock, obviously wastes of a ne ighboured garden. Therefore an intoxication by Taxus sp. was suspected . For a further clarification the rumen contents of two died goats wer e investigated. The rumen contained 1190 and 1710 g ingesta, which wer e interspersed by visible leaves of Taxus and their fragments. The ide ntification was ensured by control under a magnifier; also some leaves in an arrangement typical for male Taxus were observed. Taxus leaves in the 2 rumens were counted and in consideration of the fragments 219 0 and 230 leaves per kg rumen content were estimated. Assuming a mean weight for Taxus leaves in autumn of 18.4 mg/leave (+/-3.9, n = 50, fr esh cut leaves) a consumption of 2.4 and 0.4 g Taxus leaves/kg body we ight is derived. An overview in literature is given and documents a hi gh number of cases in horses and ruminants. Important by forensic poin t of view is the endangering of animals by mistakes in keeping conditi ons, as pasturing meadows with neighbouring yews, or the wrong handlin g of hedge cut as well as the evidence of Taxus leaves in the stomach to ensure diagnosis.