Poisoning by Brachiaria spp. in various lamb breeds at increasing levels of supplementation during growth

Abstract

The study evaluate the frequency of poisoning by Brachiaria spp. at the rearing, growth and termination stages in various lamb breeds at increasing supplementation levels. Forty-five lambs were used in the growth phase in pastures of Brachiaria spp. with a history of having induced poisoning. The lambs were distributed in nutritional treatments: lambs receiving mineral supplementation (MS), energy/protein supplementation (EPS) at 0.8% of body weight (bw), EPS at 1.6% bw and EPS at 2.4% bw. The lambs were allotted two flocks (F1 and F2) of 21 and 24 lambs each. Clinical signs of poisoning were observed in all treatments. All MS lambs died. The frequency of poisoning were highest in the 0.8% EPS and 1.6% EPS treatments. All lambs in the 2.4% EPS treatment recovered. F1 lambs had a higher frequency of poisoning than F2 lambs regardless of nutritional treatment. Morbidity rates for the F1 and F2 lambs were 52.3 and 16.7%, respectively. Supplementation was not sufficient to decrease the frequency of poisoning in lambs at the termination stage, which was dependent on the genetic origin of the lambs. EPS of 2.4% bw treatment, was an efficient nutritional strategy to minimize the effects of poisoning in lambs fed on Brachiaria spp.

Protodioscin levels in Brachiaria spp. in a sheep production system and a brief review of the literature of Brachiaria spp. poisoning in ruminants

“…in studies of the toxicity and must include botanical identification and separately chemical species analysis. Melo et al (2018) Every 28 days, randomly, with a 0.25m² square 0.3-1.3% Melo et al (2019a) Metallic square in 10 random points, simulating grazing 0.42-1.81% Melo et al (2019b) Ten samples every 28 days, with 0.5x0.5m square, close to the ground 1,04-2.17% Brum et al (2007) B. decumbens Cuts close to the ground, at 20 points 1.63-2.36% Brum et al (2009) At four different stages, cuts at 3cm from the soil b 0.8-1.,9% De Oliveira et al (2013) Harvest by hand, simulating grazing at random points 3.24-3.54% Porto et al (2013) Every 15 days, 2cm cuts of soil, 10 random locations 0.94% Gracindo et al (2014) Every 15 days, 2cm cuts from the ground in 10 points with 1m² 0.33-1.22% Lozano et al (2017) Collection at three points of 1m², simulating grazing 0.59-2.99% Castro et al (2018) Air-dried samples every 15 days 0.62-1.18% Lelis et al (2018) Six samples every 28 days with a 0.25m² metal square, cut at 5cm from the ground 0.9-0.37% Present study…”

“…is responsible for the poisoning (Souza et al 2010, Ogliari et al 2018. In those instances, the protodioscin concentrations were not determined (Lemos et al 1996, Caicedo et al 2012, Rosa et al 2016, Utiumi et al 2018, and even when they were, each plant species was not analyzed separately (Mustafa et al 2012, Diamantino et al 2018, 2019a, 2019b.…”