EFFECTIVE DOSE IN CATTLE OF TOXIC ALKALOIDS FROM TALL LARKSPUR (DELPHINIUM-BARBEYI)

We determined the po toxicity of tall larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi) of known alkaloid composition to cattle. We calculated the effective dos e at which the alkaloids methyllycaconitine and 14-deacetyl-nudicaulin e, collectively termed total toxic alkaloid, caused collapse and stern al recumbency, The effective dose of total toxic alkaloid that produce d sternal recumbency in steers was 11.2 mg/kg bw. Based on this dose, we hypothesize that the LD(50) for a po dose of total toxic alkaloids in cattle will be 25 to 40 mg/kg bw.