Fatal privet (Ligustrum amurease) toxicosis in Tennessee cows

Five of 24 cows pastured In a rv-acre field in east Tennessee died after th ey consumed leaves from a privet (Ligustrum amurease) hedge. Clinical findi ngs included ataxia, recumbency with an inability to stand, depression, gre enish nasal discharge, cessation of rumination, normal body temperature, an d increased heart and respiratory rates. Differential diagnoses included gr ass tetany, nitrate toxicosis, and plant toxicosis. Privet toxicosis was co nfirmed by finding privet in ruminal contents, by the presence of a large q uantity of privet In the field, by observing places where this privet had b een eaten by the cows, by the immediate cessation of the problem when the c ows were removed from the field, and by observing no recurrent problems aft er the privet was destroyed with a herbicide and the cows were returned to the field.