Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332757
Title: Lupine poisoning in sheep on the USDA-ARS U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES), Dubois, Idaho

Author
item Panter, Kip
item Taylor, Joshua - Bret
item Lee, Stephen
item Strong, Nicole
item Wierenga, Terrie
item Cook, Daniel
item WELSH, STANLEY - Brigham Young University

Submitted to: International Journal of Poisonous Plant Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/30/2015
Publication Date: 8/1/2017
Citation: Panter, K.E., Taylor, J.B., Lee, S.T., Strong, N.K., Wierenga, T.L., Cook, D., Welsh, S.L. 2017. Lupine poisoning in sheep on the USDA-ARS U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES), Dubois, Idaho. International Journal of Poisonous Plant Research. 4:79-87.

Interpretive Summary: Multiple sheep losses from lupine have been reported on the US Sheep Experiment station in Dubois, Idaho over the last 4 decades. A lupine survey of the Headquarters Ranch and the Humphrey Ranch revealed 5 lupine species. Chemical analysis of each of the 5 species showed a distinct chemical profile for each species. A single lupine species was not implicated in the poisoning although field evidence suggested that 1 or 2 species were probably involved. All sheep losses were reported on the Humphrey Ranch and recent mitigation efforts have reduced further losses.

Technical Abstract: The US Sheep Experiment Station (USSES), Dubois, Idaho, manages over 30,000 acres of rangelands for range management research, sheep breeding and nutrition research. There are two main ranches, the Headquarters Ranch (27,930 acres) and Humphrey Ranch (2600 acres). Over the last 4 decades there have multiple sheep losses at the USSES from lupines, Lupinus argenteus, L. caudatus, L. leucophyllus, L. polyphyllus and L. sericeus. All of the losses have occurred on the Humphrey ranch. A survey of both ranches revealed 5 lupine species. Vouchers specimens were collected and filed in the USDA-ARS-Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory Herbarium in Logan, UT. Chemical Analysis of each of the lupine species showed a distinct alkaloid profile representing alkaloids from both the quinolizidine and piperidine classes. We believe that only 1 or 2 species are responsible for the sheep losses and mitigation efforts have reduced losses.