Onion poisoning of young cattle

Abstract

Eighty-five cattle (calves and yearlings) were allowed 1000 kg of onions (Allium cepa) a day. Signs of poisoning were observed after five days; 22 animals were affected, one fatally. New illnesses continued to occur for five days after the withdrawal of onions from the diet. Clinical signs included inappetance, tachycardia, staggering and collapse, with jaundiced conjunctivae and haemoglobinuria. Haemolytic anaemia with Heinz bodies in the red cells and leucocytosis were demonstrated.

Onion poisoning in a herd of dairy cattle

“…The clinical signs reported here were very similar to those reported earlier (Koger 1956, Hutchison 1977, Verhoeff and others 1985), but one study reported that jaundice was not apparent (Lazarus and Rajamani 1968). In another study, signs of poisoning were observed in calves and yearlings that were allowed to eat about 8 to 15 kg onions per head after five days, and new illnesses continued to occur for a further five days following withdrawal of onions from the diet (Verhoeff and others 1985). In accordance with the finding that adult cattle are more susceptible to onion toxicity than calves and yearlings (Koger 1956), the addition of the high load of about 20 kg of onions per head induced clinical signs as early as 24 hours in the herd of dairy cows in the present study.…”

“…Younger cattle appear to be most resistant (Koger 1956) which is in contrast to younger sheep (Pekelder and Akkermans 1985). To the author's knowledge, data concerning hospitalised cases of onion poisoning in adult dairy cows are not available, compared with data for onion poisoning in calves and yearlings, which are supposed to be more resistant than adult cows (Verhoeff and others 1985).…”

Poisonous plants

“…has been associated with adverse effects in animals such as cattle, horses, dogs and cats [62][63][64][65]. Wild (A. canadensis and A. validum) and domesticated (A. cepa) onions, chives (A. schoenoprasum) and garlic (A. sativum) contain n-propyl disulfide and other sulfur containing compounds that can interfere with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in red blood cells [4].…”

Liliaceae Juss.

“…For example, in an instance in which 85 calves and yearlings were given 1000 kg onions per day, signs of intoxication occurred in 22 animals in 5 days (Verhoeff et al 1985). Heinz bodies were also apparent in amounts proportional to dosage.…”