Conditioned feed aversion as a means to prevent tulp (Homeria pallida) poisoning in cattle.

Abstract

Conditioned feed aversion was investigated as a means to prevent tulp (Homeria pallida) poisoning in cattle on tulp-infested grazing. Aversion treatment with a combination of epoxyscillirosidin and lithium chloride together with a tulp-hexane extract, which served as identification factor for tulp, resulted in a significantly lower (P < 0.001) proportion of severe tulp poisoning. In a first trial where 21 averted and 21 non-averted control cattle were exposed to a tulp-infested grass pasture, only two of the averted cattle were severely poisoned compared to 13 of the non-averted control cattle. In a second trial, with cattle being exposed to a pure stand of tulp supplemented with maize residues, only two of 21 averted cattle were severely poisoned compared to 14 of 21 non-averted control cattle. Occurrence of mild tulp poisoning, however, did not differ much between averted and non-averted control cattle. The results show that conditioned feed aversion effectively restricted severe poisoning in cattle on tulp-infested grazing.

• Authors: L D Snyman, R A Schultz, J P J Joubert, K M Basson, L Labuschagne
• Journal: The Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research (Onderstepoort J Vet Res) Vol. 70 Issue 1 Pg. 43-8 (Mar 2003) ISSN: 0030-2465 [Print] South Africa
• PMID: 12825680 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cholenes
• epoxyscillirosidin
• Lithium Chloride

Topics

• Animal Feed
• Animals
• Aversive Therapy
• Cattle
• Cattle Diseases (prevention & control)
• Cholenes (administration & dosage)
• Eating
• Feeding Behavior
• Female
• Food Preferences
• Iridaceae (poisoning)
• Lithium Chloride (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Plant Poisoning (prevention & control, veterinary)