Vol. 10, Special Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
Shraddha Nety, KM Koley, Chandra Prakash Sen, Shweta Jain and Vandana Bhagat

Abstract:
Harsh and drought weather conditions like autumn and summer which have been favourable for a certain kind of poisoning that can affect animals on pasture. Hot arid weather followed by warmer temperatures favours scarcity of fodder plants so during scarcity period animal goes towards the toxic plants which is generally highly palatable in nature. The major plant parts that caused poisoning were leaves as these parts are easily accessible and repeatedly fed by animals. Present qualitative chemical analysis was carried out obtained from the feed and rumen liquor sample was collected from the one cattle and twelve goat died from the acute poisoning of Acacia Leucophloea received from Narharpur District of Chhattisgarh. For this rumen contents and forages was preserved in the frozen condition until analysis History revealed that the animals were accidently grazing in the field where Acacia Leucophloea planted. The clinical symptoms were per acute to acute. Digestive disturbances, Dysponea, difficulty in breathing, cytotoxic anoxia, respiratory failure often resulting in death less than one hour after ingestion. Post-mortem examination revealed bitter almond smell and qualitative laboratory analysis of rumen liquor also showed presence of hydrogen cyanide which indicated that cause of significant morbidity and mortality in a herd of twelve goats and one cattle after exposure to plant Acacia leucophloea. It is concluded that Phytopoisoning is commonly occurring and challenging health of livestock. The findings this analysis suggest that picrate paper test for cyanide and Dragendorff reagent and/or Mayer test could be used as field test for qualitative evaluation for alkaloid in rumen liquor and feed sample also feed and fodder, pasture of animals should be properly monitored for absence of any fungal growth to minimize the risk of enforced consumption of livestock on poisonous plants due to feed shortage.