PLANT TOXICITY IN PASTURED CATTLE

Sixty crossbred beef cows and their calves were allowed access to a 40 -acre pasture adjacent to the pastures being grazed. Three days later, four mature cows died acutely; three others died the following day. W hen the herd was removed from the pasture, no further illnesses or dea ths occurred. An investigative team found a variety of toxic plants. B ased on laboratory results and clinical signs in the affected cattle, Xanthium strumarium (cocklebur) was considered to be the most likely t oxic agent. Because there is no specific antidote for treatment of thi s toxicosis, the preferred method of management is prevention.