| Abstract: | Ryegrass staggers was diagnosed in a group of young stock on a dairy farm in the Netherlands. The cattle were fed on ryegrass hay originating from a farm in the region. The typical clinical signs observed in this herd were difficulty in rising, hypermetria of especially the front legs, incoordination, and tremors of the head and neck muscles. The morbidity of the illness was about 80 percent and there was no mortality. Four weeks after withdrawal of the hay, the animals recovered completely. The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstrating high concentrations of Lolitrem-B (1.7 ppm) in the hay. This neurotoxin is usually produced by the endophyte Neotyphodium lolii with which ryegrass may be infected. This is the first case of ryegrass staggers in cows reported in the Netherlands since 1992. |
