Ergot toxicosis causing death in weaned beef calves
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol48no2p134-138Keywords:
ergot, endophyte, fescue, Claviceps, Neotyphodium, beef cattle, calves, clinical aspects, diagnosis, ergot alkaloids, feeds, growth retardation, hyperthermia, mortality, poisoning, summer, toxicity, toxicology, weaningAbstract
Eight bull beef calves weighing approximately 500 lb (227 kg) died following consumption of toxic levels of ergot alkaloids during the summer of 2012. Survivors demonstrated chronic effects of ergot alkaloid toxicosis, including poor growth and hyperthermia. All 60 calves on the farm had been weaned for 3 weeks at the time of the incident, and were consuming a free-choice pelleted creep feed which was identified as the source of the toxin. Two common sources of ergot alkaloid in livestock in the United States are tall fescue grass infected by the fungal endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum, and Claviceps purpurea-associated sclerotia on seed heads of grasses or cereal grains. Toxic levels of ergot alkaloids in commercial feed as found in this case is not common.
