Gangrenous ergotism in a suckler herd
Holliman, A.
Veterinary Record 124(15): 398-399
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 2728284 Document Number: 327027
In September, 1988, a group of 16 suckler cows and calves were turned out onto a permanent pasture in Cumbria that had not been grazed for 5 weeks. Within 4 days 2 cows were noticed to be lame and unwell and the whole group was removed from the pasture. Two days later a third cow became affected. Initial signs were confined to swelling in the hock joints that spread distally, and 2 weeks later there was a prominent line of separation between viable and necrotic tissue in the lower metatarsal region. By 4 weeks separation of the hoof was occurring. Another group of heifers was turned onto the same pasture and 4 days later 2 became lame. One recovered rapidly, but all the other affected cattle were slaughtered on humane grounds. Examination of the affected pasture showed that ryegrass heads were heavily infected with ergot; timothy and Yorkshire fog were infected to a lesser extent.