Comparison of sheep and goats to the acute toxic effects of foothill death camas

Authors: Welch, Kevin; Lee, Stephen; Stonecipher, Clinton - Clint; GARDNER, DALE - Retired ARS Employee; Cook, Daniel

Submitted to: Poisonous Plant Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2024
Publication Date: 6/27/2024
Citation: Welch, K.D., Lee, S.T., Stonecipher, C.A., Gardner, D., Cook, D. 2024. Comparison of sheep and goats to the acute toxic effects of foothill death camas. Poisonous Plant Research. 7:17-26. https://doi.org/10.26077/c444-bc12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26077/c444-bc12

Interpretive Summary: Death camas is a poisonous plant found throughout the western United States, which is known to kill both sheep and cattle. In a previous study, goats appeared to be somewhat resistant to the adverse effects of death camas. Therefore, the objective of this study was to directly compare the susceptibility of goats and sheep to the acute toxic effects of death camas. Sheep and goats were treated with the same doses of death camas. The data presented in this manuscript suggest that goats are more susceptible to death camas than sheep. There were no differences in the concentrations of the toxic alkaloid in the blood of sheep versus goats. There was a difference between goats and sheep in the severity of observed clinical signs of poisoning. This is highlighted by the fact that five goats from the two highest doses died, whereas none of the sheep died. Consequently, when grazing goats in death camas infested pastures as much caution, if not more, should be taken than one would with sheep. Additionally, the data presented in the study suggests that goats can be used as a small ruminant model to study the toxic effects of death camas.

Technical Abstract: Death camas (Zigadenus spp) is a perennial forb found throughout the western United States, which is known to kill both sheep and cattle. Sheep losses to death camas typically occur in the spring when the death camas plants are in the mid to late vegetative phenological stage of growth, which coincides with the time that the plant material is most toxic. In a previous study, goats appeared to be somewhat resistant to the adverse effects of death camas. Therefore, the objective of this study was to directly compare the susceptibility of goats and sheep to the acute toxic effects of death camas. Sheep and goats were dosed at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 g death camas per kg BW. The data presented in this manuscript suggest that goats are more susceptible to death camas than sheep. There were no differences in the serum concentrations of zygadenine in sheep versus goats. There was a difference between goats and sheep in the severity of observed clinical signs of poisoning. This is highlighted by the fact that five goats from the two highest doses died, whereas none of the sheep died. Consequently, when grazing goats in death camas infested pastures as much caution, if not more, should be taken than one would with sheep. Additionally, the data presented in the study suggests that goats can be used as a small ruminant model to study the toxic effects of death camas.