VETCH TOXICOSIS IN CATTLE GRAZING VICIA-VILLOSA SSP DASYCARPA AND V-BENGHALENSIS

The epidemiological, clinical and pathological features of a disease s yndrome in adult cattle grazing woolly-pod vetch (Vicia villosa ssp da sycarpa) or popany vetch (V benghalensis) are reported. Outbreaks of t oxicosis occurred between midwinter and midsummer in 3 dairy and 6 bee f herds on the north coast of New South Wales, between 1982 and 1992. Friesian, Angus, Murray Grey, Guernsey and Hereford breeds were affect ed. Mean morbidity and case fatality rates in affected herds were 7% ( 65 of 889) and 69%, respectively. Signs of pruritic dermatitis, illthr ift and death were associated with an eosinophilic granulomatous infla mmation of many organs, particularly involving the renal cortex, dermi s, myocardium, adrenal glands, lymph nodes and hepatic portal triads.