Between September and December 1995, 72 out of 476 cattle on 15 dairy farms
in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania, died of suspected Dichapetalum po
isoning. Following a drought and a resultant forage shortage, 12 of the far
ms had purchased hay from commercial farms in the Coast region, particularl
y from one seed and hay farm located about 60 km west of Dar es Salaam city
. Following ingestion of the purchased hay, affected animals were acutely i
ll and their clinical signs included inappetence, dullness, high stepping g
ait, disinclination to move, jugular vein distension and gastrointestinal m
alfunctions. Fatal cases died suddenly after a short course of illness. Tox
ic plants identified as Dichapetalum mossambicense Engl. and D. stuhlmannii
Engl. were found mixed in the hay. A diagnosis of Dichapetalum poisoning w
as made on the basis of history, clinical signs and postmortem findings in
fatal cases. On withdrawal of the contaminated hay, the outbreak subsided a
nd deaths ceased. The findings of the investigation are discussed.