THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF BIRDSVILLE DISEASE OF HORSES

In a feeding experiment with eight horses fed toxic levels of Indigofera dominii, the poisonous plant which caused Birdsville disease of horses, three of four supplemented with peanut meal and one supplemented with gelatin did not develop the disease. Two non-supplemented control horses, one supplemented with peanut meal and another who was fed gelatin but rejected it, contracted Birdsville disease. This experiment, along with treatment trials in field cases is presented as evidence of the value of arginine-rich protein supplement in protecting and treating horses against the toxic effects of Indigofera dominii. The possible mode of action is discussed.