Toxic plants for livestock

Source: INTA

The doctor Ernesto Odriozola, outstanding specialist, considers that the most dangerous plants that are in the field in the spring time and summer, fortunately, only produce very spectacular nervous symptoms but fortunately they have a drop rate of death toll; on the other hand another plant, the sunchillo, that is the cause number one of deaths in bovine in the county of Buenos Aires, exists and that for unknown causes, at this time of the year it is consumed voluntarily by the cows.

Odriozola continued explaining then that to all those causing plants of nervous symptoms, the producer knows them for its common names, perhaps it doesn't relate them with the toxicity, but yes they are all well-known plants. They are, the partridge Paw, the Grass Honey, and the same Rye Grass that can be parasitado for a mushroom and substances that are translated in a nervous sintomatología to take place.

With regard to the Sunchillo that is known as Yellow Carnation or Yuyo Toad in other regions, espcificó that their scientific name is "glaucous wedellia", and without any doubt it is the most dangerous plant for the Argentinean Humid Pampas.

About if the producer can recognize it and have more than enough if there are other plants of this type in the field in primavera/verano, the specialist said that they are not many, fortunately the toxic plants, but that yes you/he/she is necessary that the field man recognizes them, since it is this it is the only way that has the producer to be protected. And, referring now yes specifically to the Yuyo Toad, he/she explained to us that the animal eats it and that practically there is not a period of symptoms, since directly the dead animal appears. Then, the only possibility that has the producing one of preventing the toxicity is avoiding the consumption by means of the recognition its existence in its field.

Consulted on if some form of control/prevención of the consumption of these plants exists, the professional of the Inta explained that the measures of prevention, are in fact more than handling that another thing. Certain plants are toxic only in certain moments of the year and the producer should know when. Then he/she manifested that in particular the Grass Honey, grows in spring-summer in lands of good quality and that it is parasitada-when the climatic conditions are favorable-for a mushroom. This is the one that produces the toxic substance that translates you in a nervous sintomatología, with incoordinación of movements. The animal is unable to usually be mobilized, he takes very strange postures, but fortunately the death toll that takes place is very low.

Passing the Rye Grass, in the one that yes the toxic principle, the prevention is known it would be to avoid in February-March that the animal the sobrepastoree, since the toxic principle (that is also produced by a mushroom) it is in the first 10 cm. of the plant. Then, if one not makes a shepherding very intensive, this common nervous sintomatología would be avoiding for the Rye Grass.

Specialized veterinary diagnosis

The Dr. Odriozola continued expressing that it is necessary to remember permanently to the producer that there are services of veterinary diagnosis in the agricultural experimental stations of the Inta and it recommended to appeal them before the appearance of non common problems.