Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) poisoning in cattle.

Authors: ROOD, KERRY - Utah State University; Panter, Kip; Gardner, Dale; Stegelmeier, Bryan; HALL, JEFFREY - Utah Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory

Submitted to: International Symposium on Poisonous Plants
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2015
Publication Date: 6/5/2015
Citation: Rood, K.A., Panter, K.E., Gardner, D.R., Stegelmeier, B.L., Hall, J.O. 2015. Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) poisoning in cattle.. International Symposium on Poisonous Plants. 9:118-120.

Interpretive Summary: Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) is a foreign invasive noxious weed from Eurasia, first collected and identified in the United States at Wells, NV in 1934. It is unclear how this weed was introduced but it spread rapidly on overgrazed and depleted desert range. Within 40 years it infested 11.2 million acres throughout the intermountain west and Colorado Plateau. Halogeton poisoning continues to be a problem and this chapter reports yet another with some distinct characteristics. In this case the halogeton growth was associated with land disturbed previously, with the majority of growth near an old ditch bank and, on the neighboring ranch, in the corner of a pasture used for cultivation. In 2012, twenty-six, mature, Black Angus cows were found dead by a northwestern Utah producer in a herd of 350. Cattle were in poor body condition (BCS 3.5/9) coming off of summer grazing and were trucked 50 km to winter pastures. Death occurred within one week of moving. A necropsy was performed on one of the deceased animals and the referring veterinarian submitted tissues. Pathology results indicated oxalate nephrosis with intratubular material consistent with calcium oxalate crystals. The producer submitted plant samples, and subsequent plant samples were obtained and submitted during a farm visit by the author. Submitted plants were identified as Halogeton glomeratus. The variation in oxalate levels seen between neighboring ranches validates previously reported large ranges in plant content.

Technical Abstract: Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) is a foreign invasive noxious weed from Eurasia, first collected and identified in the United States at Wells, NV in 1934. It is unclear how this weed was introduced but it spread rapidly on overgrazed and depleted desert range. Within 40 years it infested 11.2 million acres throughout the intermountain west and Colorado Plateau. Halogeton poisoning continues to be a problem and this chapter reports yet another with some distinct characteristics. In this case the halogeton growth was associated with land disturbed previously, with the majority of growth near an old ditch bank and, on the neighboring ranch, in the corner of a pasture used for cultivation. In 2012, twenty-six, mature, Black Angus cows were found dead by a northwestern Utah producer in a herd of 350. Cattle were in poor body condition (BCS 3.5/9) coming off of summer grazing and were trucked 50 km to winter pastures. Death occurred within one week of moving. A necropsy was performed on one of the deceased animals and the referring veterinarian submitted tissues. Pathology results indicated oxalate nephrosis with intratubular material consistent with calcium oxalate crystals. The producer submitted plant samples, and subsequent plant samples were obtained and submitted during a farm visit by the author. Submitted plants were identified as Halogeton glomeratus. The variation in oxalate levels seen between neighboring ranches validates previously reported large ranges in plant content.