The effect of dietary supplements on chronic bitterweed (Hymenoxys odorata) poisoning in sheep.
Two experiments were designed to establish a chronic bitterweed dose in sheep and to study the prevention of chronic bitterweed poisoning with dietary supplements of high protein (20% crude protein) and sodium sulfate. The first experiment consisted of 5 lambs in each of 3 groups. The low dose received up to 5.0 g bitterweed/kg/day which was equivalent to 10 mg hymenoxon/kg bw. The high dose group received a maximum bitterweed dose of 1 g/kg/day or 20 mg hymenoxon/kg. The final average weights of the low (29 kg) and the high (30 kg) dose groups were significantly different from the control (40 kg) group. The prophylactic experiment consisted of 5 groups of 4 sheep each. Each group received a different combination of bitterweed, a basal ration, soybean meal, urea, or sodium sulfate. The soybean meal and urea were used to adjust the ration to 20% crude protein, and each animal received 1.2 g bitterweed/kg/day. The high protein-sodium sulfate diet did not prevent chronic bitterweed toxicity, but soybean meal-sodium sulfate combination had the greatest effect on the reduction of bitterweed toxicity. Urea potentiated the toxic effects of bitterweed.
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Louisiana Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Baton Rouge 70894.
Bailey
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D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000506:poisoning*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014118:Toxins, Biological
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013431:Sulfates; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C012036:sodium sulfate; C015288:hymenovin