Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) Population Change in Central New Mexico: Implications for Management and Control

This paper examines changes in broom snakeweed populations (Gutierrezia sarothrae [Pursh] Britt. & Rusby) from 1979 to 2014 at three prairie grassland sites in New Mexico. Data gathered each fall were used to study broom snakeweed population dynamics and to estimate the probability that the relatively short-lived subshrub will die off or invade blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis [H.B.K. Lag]) rangelands. Annual broom snakeweed standing crop data were used to categorize populations as None (< 100 kg ha^? 1), Light (< 300), Moderate (< 750), or Heavy (≥ 750). Ordered logit regression was then used to estimate the frequency of transition between these categories over time depending on environmental and site factors. Significant variables found to influence annual variation in broom snakeweed included the broom snakeweed standing crop and density observed the previous period (+ effect for continued broom snakeweed); grass standing crop the previous period (?); rainfall received from April to June (+); and average temperatures during April (+) and June (?). The probability of broom snakeweed invading an area that is currently without the plant ranges from about 1% to > 40% depending on environmental conditions and the amount of grass standing crop present. Transition probability estimates were also used in a Monte Carlo simulation model to evaluate the economics of broom snakeweed control. The economics of chemical broom snakeweed control were most strongly related to the rate of snakeweed reinvasion on treated areas and to the probability of natural die-off if infested areas were not sprayed.     

Decreasing Forage Allowance Can Force Cattle to Graze Broom Snakeweed (Gutierrezia Sarothrae) as a Potential Biological Control

Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae [Pursh] Britt. & Rusby) increases and dominates rangelands following disturbances such as overgrazing, fire, and drought. However, if cattle can be forced to graze snakeweed, they can be used as a biological tool to control it. Grazing trials were conducted in May and August 2004, 2005, and 2006 on a crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.) seeding that had been invaded by broom snakeweed. Narrow grazing lanes were fenced with temporary electric fence and the cows were moved to a new lane each day. Forage allowance was limited to 24%–75% of the intake requirement. There were significant negative correlations (P < 0.05) between forage allowance and snakeweed utilization, suggesting it was the main factor driving snakeweed consumption. In the 2004 experiment, 7 cows in low body condition (4.6 body condition score, BCS) and 7 cows in high body condition (6.8 BCS) were grazed in separate lanes. The low body condition group grazed more snakeweed in the evening grazing period (26% of bites) than the high body condition group (20% of bites, P = 0.03). In the 2005 experiment, one group (6 cows) received a protein/energy supplement high in bypass amino acids required for detoxification of terpenes; the second group received no supplement. There was no difference in snakeweed consumption between the supplement groups (P = 0.63). The major difference in diets in both years occurred in grazing periods during the day. Cows grazed perennial bunchgrasses first, then turned to cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), and grazed snakeweed only when all other forage was depleted (20% of bites in the evening grazing periods). Cattle grazed 62%–95% of snakeweed plants and utilized 50%–85% of snakeweed biomass. Cattle can be forced to graze snakeweed by confining them to small areas and limiting alternative forage. Grazing reduced the snakeweed population.     

Conditioning taste aversions to locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) in horses

Locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) is a serious poisoning problem for horses grazing on infested rangelands in the western United States. Our objectives were to determine 1) whether lithium chloride or apomorphine would condition aversions to palatable foods, and at what doses, and 2) whether horses could be averted to fresh locoweed in a pen and grazing situation. Apomorphine was not an acceptable aversive agent because at the dose required to condition an aversion (> or = 0.17 mg/kg BW), apomorphine induced unacceptable behavioral effects. Lithium chloride given via stomach tube at 190 mg/kg BW conditioned strong and persistent aversions to palatable feeds with minor signs of distress. Pen and grazing tests were conducted in Colorado to determine if horses could be averted to fresh locoweed. Pen tests indicated that most horses (5/6) were completely averted from locoweed. Treated horses ate 34 g of fresh locoweed compared to 135 g for controls (P < 0.01) during three pen tests when offered 150 g per test. One horse (T) in the treatment group ate locoweed each time it was offered in the pen, but ate no locoweed while grazing. In the grazing trial, control horses averaged 8.6% of bites of locoweed (P < 0.01) during the grazing portion of the study, whereas treated horses averaged <0.5%. One treated horse (S) accounted for all consumption; he consumed 15% of his bites as locoweed in a grazing bout on d 2 of the field study. Thereafter, he was dosed a second time with lithium chloride and ate no locoweed in the subsequent 5 d. Three of six horses required two pairings of lithium chloride with fresh locoweed to condition a complete aversion. The results of this study indicate that horses can be averted from locoweed using lithium chloride as an aversive agent, and this may provide a management tool to reduce the risk of intoxication for horses grazing locoweed-infested rangeland.     

Toxicity of Riddell's groundsel (Senecio riddellii) to cattle

The toxicity of Riddell's groundsel (Senecio riddellii) fed to calves in gelatin capsules, by gavage, or mixed in their hay ration was determined. Dosages were varied according to the pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) content of the plant, and the calves' responses were measured by clinical signs, serum enzyme changes, survival time, and histopathologic changes. Calves fed S riddellii to provide 10 mg of PA/kg of body weight/day in capsules or by gavage for 20 consecutive days did not develop clinical signs of seneciosis and did not have meaningful serum enzyme changes. However, feedings of the plant that provided 15 to 20 mg of PA/kg/day or more (gavaged or fed in capsules for the same time period) resulted in high mortality. The Senecio plant mixed in calves' hay ration was eaten slowly and reluctantly and was tolerated at dosages greater than 20 mg/kg/day, emphasizing that the toxicity was dependent on the rate at which the dosage was consumed and that mortality was not necessarily dependent on the cumulative dosage. Because of its high PA content, S riddellii presents a great hazard to cattle managed under conditions where they can consume quantities of the plant in short periods of time.     

Conditioning taste aversion to Mascagnia rigida (Malpighiaceae) in sheep

The objective of this study was to determine if sheep could be averted to Mascagnia rigida, a toxic plant found in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. Twelve female sheep naïve to M. rigida were randomly allocated to two treatment groups: control (treated with 15 mL water orally by a drenching gun) and lithium group (treated with 150 mg LiCl/kg body weight orally by a drenching gun). For conditioning, sheep were allowed to feed on M. rigida leaves for 15 min, followed by LiCl or water administration. The time spent eating M. rigida leaves was measured. The conditioning was repeated daily until the LiCl-treated sheep stopped eating M. rigida, which occurred at days 2 and 3. Persistence trials were conducted on day 10, 24, 40, 55, and 70 of the trial using single-choice tests. There was no difference between the two treatment groups with respect to the consumption of M. rigida on the first day of aversion conditioning. On the second day, three out of the six sheep in the lithium group did not eat the leaves, but on the third day, all the sheep in the lithium group did not ingest M. rigida. This aversion persisted throughout all the persistence trials. This indicates that sheep can be easily conditioned by using lithium chloride to avoid eating M. rigida.     

Survey for antibodies to leukemia (C-type) virus in cattle.

Serums from 4,394 dairy cattle in 100 herds and from 2,794 beef cattle in 50 herds were tested for antibody to the bovine (C-type) leukemia virus (BLV), using the agar gel immunodiffusion test. Reactors were found in 66% of the dairy herds (10.2% of the cattle) and in 14% of the beef herds (1.2% of the cattle). The prevalence of reactors was examined with respect to age, herd size, and sex. Few of the reactors were less than 2 years old. There was a high percentage of reactors in small dairy herds (less than 50 cattle). In 22 dairy herds (1,354 cows and 96 bulls), the rate of infection in cows was compared with that in bulls. In those herds, 13.5% of the cows and 10.4% of the bulls were reactors.     

Transmission ofTheileria parva bovis (Boleni strain) to cattle resistant to the brown ear tickRhipicephalus appendiculatus (Neumann)

Four crossbred Bos taurus oxen resistant to Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and three tick naive oxen of the same breed, which were all infested with adult R. appendiculatus infected with the Boleni strain of Theileria parva bovis, acquired Theileria infection. All four tick resistant oxen recovered after a mild febrile reaction. Two of the tick naive oxen died while the third recovered after a protracted period. It is suggested that tick resistance in cattle may be an important factor in establishing and maintaining enzootic stability in Theileria endemic areas.     

The productivity effects of cattle tick (Boophilus microplus) infestation on cattle, with particular reference to Bos indicus cattle and their crosses

In response to uncertainty among cattle producers in Australia regarding the need to treat Bos indicus and B. indicus crossbreeds, the scientific literature relating to the productivity effects of Boophilus microplus on cattle of all breeds was reviewed. Estimates of the mean effect of each engorging tick (damage coefficient, d) were made from a simple analysis of the reported data. On average, each engorging female tick is responsible for the loss of 1.37 +/- 0.25 g bodyweight in B. taurus cattle. The comparable value for B. taurusxB. indicus cattle is 1.18 +/- 0.21 g/engorging tick. These values were not statistically significantly different, indicating that if a threshold approach to tick control were taken, then the threshold number of standard ticks would be the same regardless of cattle genotype. No studies provided useable estimates of the effect of tick infestation on pure B. indicus cattle. An economic threshold for treatment, below which acaricide application is not beneficial, can be predicted, using known values for the cost of acaricide application and the price of beef. However, the application of a threshold approach to control has not been embraced by government advisers and runs contrary to the accepted principals of strategic control programs.     

Toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Riddell groundsel (Senecio riddellii) to cattle

The toxicity of Riddell groundsel (Senecio riddellii) gavaged to calves at a known lethal rate was compared with the toxicity of riddelliine and riddelliine N-oxide, the pyrrolizidine alkaloids isolated from the plant, which were fed by intraruminal infusion. Doses of the alkaloids were adjusted to the amount determined to be in the plant and fed individually and in combination. The relative toxicosis in the calves was measured by clinical signs, serum enzyme changes, survival time to morbidity, and histologic changes. Calves fed Senecio riddellii by gavage for 20 consecutive days to provide 45 mg of total pyrrolizidine alkaloids/kg of body weight/d developed clinical signs and serum enzyme changes typical of seneciosis, with 100% morbidity. However, calves receiving riddelliine at 4.5 mg/kg/d for 20 days had neither serum enzyme changes nor clinical signs of pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis. Calves treated with riddelliine N-oxide (40.5 mg/kg/d), and with riddelliine (4.5 mg/kg/d) and riddelliine N-oxide (40.5 mg/kg/d) in combination, had 100% morbidity, although the latter group had fewer liver lesions. These results establish that the N-oxide form of the alkaloid alone is capable of inducing typical Senecio toxicosis in cattle and that the free base level of the plant cannot be considered to be the sole factor in assessing the toxicity of S riddellii.     

Borna disease in cattle (consensus report)

Short survey on definition, occurrence, cause, importance, pathogenesis, clinical findings, course, postmortal lesions, treatment, prevention and eradication of Borna disease in cattle.