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.