| Peer-Reviewed

Documentation of Major Poisonous Plants and Their Toxic Effects on Livestock: A Review

Received: 26 July 2023    Accepted: 14 August 2023    Published: 14 September 2023
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Plants and plant products are the main source of feed for herbivore animals throughout the world. But all plants are not safe for animals since some plants have toxic properties. Poisonous plants have particular importance in areas where extensive pastoral management is practiced. The large array of toxic chemicals produced by these toxic plants (phytotoxins) is usually referred to as secondary plant compounds that cause physiological changes in the host. They include alkaloids, glucosides, oxalate, cyanide, hypericin, amines, toxalbumins, picrotoxins, resins, and saponins, many of which are dangerous to human and animal life under particular conditions. The poison plants cause direct and indirect economic losses to the livestock industry around the world. The direct economic losses of poison plants include livestock deaths, abortions, birth defects, weight losses, a lengthened calving interval, decreased fertility, photosensitization, immune responses, and dysfunction of the organs. This leads to a significant economic loss for the livestock industry. Most poisonings occur in the early spring or during a drought period when feed is short, which causes animals to overgraze or change their grazing habits. Livestock poisoning by plants can often be traced to problems of management or range conditions rather than simply to the presence of poisonous plants. Thus, timely diagnosis of toxic plant or biotoxin poisoning is very important and heavily relies on identification of the toxins in the feed, pasture, or ingesta along with appropriate clinical and pathological findings. This review presents the current knowledge of the identified poisoned plants and their toxic effects on livestock. Research is needed to identify and document all poisoning plants that have potential risks for animal health and production and to determine the photochemistry and toxicology of plants.

Published in American Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering (Volume 11, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.bio.20231104.12
Page(s) 46-54
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Poisonous Plant, Toxin, Livestock, Economic Impact, Secondary Metabolic Products

References
[1] Abdurehman, A., Mengistu, S., Barassa, N., Mohammed, N., Aliye, F., and Jafer, M. (2020). Assessment on Poisonous Plants of Livestock and their Impacts on Livestock Producers in Wondo Genet, Sidama Zone, South Nation Nationalities and People Regional State, Ethiopia. 2 (9), 12–19.
[2] Abebe, A., Eik, L. O., Holand, Ådnøy, T., and Tolera, A. (2012). Pastoralists’ perceptions of feed scarcity and livestock poisoning in southern rangelands, Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 44 (1), 149–157.
[3] Abera, D., Birhanu, T., and Sultan. A. (2015). Survey of Toxic Plants in Livestock at Horro Gudurru Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 5 (1), 101–107.
[4] Adler, M. (2000): An Analysis of Hazardous Plants in the Australian Nursery Industry. Horticultural Research and Development Corporation. NSW. Australian.
[5] Arnold, M. and Gaskill, C. (2014): Cyanide poisoning in ruminants. Collage of agriculture, food and environment,
[6] Akter, S., Netzel, M., Tinggi, U., Fletcher, M., Osborne, S., and Sultanbawa, Y. (2020). Interactions Between Phytochemicals and Minerals in Terminalia ferdinandiana and Implications for Mineral Bioavailability. Frontiers in Nutrition, 7 (December), 1–10.
[7] Ali, H., and Yaqoob, U. (2021). Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Arisaema (Areaceae): a review. Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 45 (1).
[8] Asefa, M., Cao, M., He, Y., Mekonnen, E., Song, X., and Yang, J. (2020). Ethiopian vegetation types, climate and topography. Plant Diversity, 42 (4), 302–311.
[9] Abera D, Jibat T, Sori T, Feyisa A, Beyene T (2014) Assessment of Plant and Chemical Poisoning In Livestock in Central Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental and Analytical Toxicolog 4 (3). 215.
[10] Belay, W. and Enyew, M., 2016. Major toxic plants and their effect on livestock: a review. Advances in Life Science and Technologyl, 45, pp. 1-12.
[11] Block, J. (2020). Nitrate Poisoning. 839 (2).
[12] Bourke, C. A. (2000). Sunlight associated hyperthermia as a consistent and rapidly developing clinical sign in sheep intoxicated by St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). Australian Veterinary Journal, 78 (7), 483–488.
[13] Charlie, S., and Lardy, G. (1941). Nitrate Poisoning of Livestock. Canadian Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Science, 5 (11), 303.
[14] Collett, M. G. (2019). Photosensitisation diseases of animals: Classification and a weight of evidence approach to primary causes. 3 (5), 100012.
[15] Desta, A. H. (2019). Livestock Poisoning Plants: Identification and its Veterinary Importance in Afar Region of Ethiopia. The Open Agriculture Journal, 13 (1), 107–115.
[16] Diaz, G. J. (2010). Plant toxics de importance in salads y production animal in Colombia, Editorial, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, 113-117.
[17] Gadberry. s. (2014) Alterinative feeds for beef cattle. University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture Research and extension. University of Arkansas coprative extension servies printing survieses.
[18] Gupta, S. K., Gupta, A. B., and Gupta, R. (2017). Pathophysiology of Nitrate Toxicity in Humans in View of the Changing Trends of the Global Nitrogen Cycle With Special Reference to India. In The Indian Nitrogen Assessment: Sources of Reactive Nitrogen, Environmental and Climate Effects, Management Options, and Policies.
[19] Hart, C., Mcginty, A., and Carpenter, B. (2011). I NTEGR ATED T OXIC P LANT Integrated Toxic Plant Management. Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
[20] Kassa, T., and Debash, W. (2019). Documentation of Major Poisonous Plant on Livestock in Ethiopia. Journal of Diseases and Medicinal Plants, 5 (2), 39.
[21] Kennedy, A., Brennan, A., Mannion, C., and Sheehan, M. (2021). Suspected cyanide toxicity in cattle associated with ingestion of laurel - a case report. Irish Veterinary Journal, 74 (1), 1–6.
[22] Kebu B. J. (2019). Floristic diversity of Jorgo Wato Forest and ethnobotanical study of medicinal and wild edible plants used in Nole Kaba District, West Wollega, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. PhD Dissertation Addis Ababa University.
[23] Machen, A. (1990). Reducing Livestock Losses to Toxic Plants. Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
[24] Moges, W. and Eloise, L. (2010): Feeding behavior related toxicity due to Nandania domostica in cadara, info veterinary medicine, Pp. 1-10.
[25] Penniston, L. K. (2014): Dietary oxalate and calcium oxalate stones: a theoretical or real concern. ed. 2nd, Newyork: M. S. Pearle and S. Y. Nakada, Pp 1-46.
[26] Puschner, B., Tor, ER. (2001): Diagnosis of Oleander poisoning in urine, serum and liver by LC/MS3 Am Assoc Vet Lab Diagn, 44th Annual Meeting, Hershey, PA.
[27] Quinn, J. C., Kessell, A., and Weston, L. A. (2014). Secondary plant products causing photosensitization in grazing herbivores: Their structure, activity and regulation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 15 (1), 1441–1465.
[28] Rahman, M. M., Abdullah, B. R., and Wan Kahadijah, E. W. (2012): Review on oxalate poisoning on domestic animals: tolerance and performance aspect, Animal physiology and animal nutrition, 97, 605-614.
[29] Robson, S. (2007). Photosensitisation in stock. 449 (2).
[30] Savouge, P. G. and Morrison, C. S. (1999): Oxalate content of food and its effect on human, Clinical nutration, 8, 64-74.
[31] Sharma, P., Sharma, D. K., and Wadhwa, D. R. (2021). Common poisonous plants affecting livestock of Himachal Pradesh : A Review. Himachal Journal of Agricultural Research, 47 (2), 129–137.
[32] Stegelmeier, B. L., Field, R., Panter, K. E., Hall, J. O., Welch, K. D., Pfister, J. A., Gardner, D. R., Lee, S. T., Colegate, S., Davis, T. Z., Green, B. T., and Cook, D. (2013). Selected Poisonous Plants Affecting Animal and Human Health. In Haschek and Rousseaux’s Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology (Third Edit). Elsevier.
[33] Stoltenow, C. and Lardy, G. (2012): Cyanide poisoning, NDSU Extension service, Vol. 701.
[34] Thompson, (2016): overview of nitrate and nitrate poisoning on livestock, Merck manual (veterinary mannaul) City of publication, Vol. 3.
[35] Tomasso, J. R., 2012. Environmental nitrite and aquaculture: a perspective. Aquaculture international, 20 (6), pp. 1107-1116.
[36] Tyrl, G. B. and R. J. (2019). Plant poisonus. Kanerva’s Occupational Dermatology, 1059–1074.
[37] USDA. (2011). Plants Poisonous to Livestock in the Western States. Agriculture Information, 415.
[38] Vough, L. R., and Cassel, E. K. (2006). Nitrate Poisoning of Livestock Causes and Prevention. Dairy Science, 2–5.
[39] Walelign, B., Mekuriaw, E., and Sodo, W. (2016). Major Toxic Plants and Their Effect on Livestock : A Review. Advances in Life Science and Technology, 45, 1–12.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Tesfa Mossie, Betelihem Yirdaw. (2023). Documentation of Major Poisonous Plants and Their Toxic Effects on Livestock: A Review. American Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering, 11(4), 46-54. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bio.20231104.12

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Tesfa Mossie; Betelihem Yirdaw. Documentation of Major Poisonous Plants and Their Toxic Effects on Livestock: A Review. Am. J. BioSci. Bioeng. 2023, 11(4), 46-54. doi: 10.11648/j.bio.20231104.12

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Tesfa Mossie, Betelihem Yirdaw. Documentation of Major Poisonous Plants and Their Toxic Effects on Livestock: A Review. Am J BioSci Bioeng. 2023;11(4):46-54. doi: 10.11648/j.bio.20231104.12

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.bio.20231104.12,
      author = {Tesfa Mossie and Betelihem Yirdaw},
      title = {Documentation of Major Poisonous Plants and Their Toxic Effects on Livestock: A Review},
      journal = {American Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering},
      volume = {11},
      number = {4},
      pages = {46-54},
      doi = {10.11648/j.bio.20231104.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bio.20231104.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.bio.20231104.12},
      abstract = {Plants and plant products are the main source of feed for herbivore animals throughout the world. But all plants are not safe for animals since some plants have toxic properties. Poisonous plants have particular importance in areas where extensive pastoral management is practiced. The large array of toxic chemicals produced by these toxic plants (phytotoxins) is usually referred to as secondary plant compounds that cause physiological changes in the host. They include alkaloids, glucosides, oxalate, cyanide, hypericin, amines, toxalbumins, picrotoxins, resins, and saponins, many of which are dangerous to human and animal life under particular conditions. The poison plants cause direct and indirect economic losses to the livestock industry around the world. The direct economic losses of poison plants include livestock deaths, abortions, birth defects, weight losses, a lengthened calving interval, decreased fertility, photosensitization, immune responses, and dysfunction of the organs. This leads to a significant economic loss for the livestock industry. Most poisonings occur in the early spring or during a drought period when feed is short, which causes animals to overgraze or change their grazing habits. Livestock poisoning by plants can often be traced to problems of management or range conditions rather than simply to the presence of poisonous plants. Thus, timely diagnosis of toxic plant or biotoxin poisoning is very important and heavily relies on identification of the toxins in the feed, pasture, or ingesta along with appropriate clinical and pathological findings. This review presents the current knowledge of the identified poisoned plants and their toxic effects on livestock. Research is needed to identify and document all poisoning plants that have potential risks for animal health and production and to determine the photochemistry and toxicology of plants.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Documentation of Major Poisonous Plants and Their Toxic Effects on Livestock: A Review
    AU  - Tesfa Mossie
    AU  - Betelihem Yirdaw
    Y1  - 2023/09/14
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bio.20231104.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.bio.20231104.12
    T2  - American Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering
    JF  - American Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering
    JO  - American Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering
    SP  - 46
    EP  - 54
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5893
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bio.20231104.12
    AB  - Plants and plant products are the main source of feed for herbivore animals throughout the world. But all plants are not safe for animals since some plants have toxic properties. Poisonous plants have particular importance in areas where extensive pastoral management is practiced. The large array of toxic chemicals produced by these toxic plants (phytotoxins) is usually referred to as secondary plant compounds that cause physiological changes in the host. They include alkaloids, glucosides, oxalate, cyanide, hypericin, amines, toxalbumins, picrotoxins, resins, and saponins, many of which are dangerous to human and animal life under particular conditions. The poison plants cause direct and indirect economic losses to the livestock industry around the world. The direct economic losses of poison plants include livestock deaths, abortions, birth defects, weight losses, a lengthened calving interval, decreased fertility, photosensitization, immune responses, and dysfunction of the organs. This leads to a significant economic loss for the livestock industry. Most poisonings occur in the early spring or during a drought period when feed is short, which causes animals to overgraze or change their grazing habits. Livestock poisoning by plants can often be traced to problems of management or range conditions rather than simply to the presence of poisonous plants. Thus, timely diagnosis of toxic plant or biotoxin poisoning is very important and heavily relies on identification of the toxins in the feed, pasture, or ingesta along with appropriate clinical and pathological findings. This review presents the current knowledge of the identified poisoned plants and their toxic effects on livestock. Research is needed to identify and document all poisoning plants that have potential risks for animal health and production and to determine the photochemistry and toxicology of plants.
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Jimma, Ethiopia

  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Assosa, Ethiopia

  • Sections