Apparent gossypol-induced toxicosis in adult dairy goats
East, N.E.; Anderson, M.; Lowenstine, L.J.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 204(4): 642-643
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 8163423 Document Number: 432320
Consumption of a cotton-seed meal-based mineral supplement (cattle label) and a concentrate dairy mix (goat label) resulted in gossypol toxicosis in 3 adult dairy goats. The primary clinical signs were limb swelling and stiffness, ventral abdominal edema, and anorexia. All does died within a few days of the onset of illness. Necropsy revealed generalized subcutaneous edema, acute centrilobular necrosis of the liver, and myocardial fibrosis, consistent with a diagnosis of gossypol toxicosis. It was estimated that the does had consumed from 348 to 414 mg of free gossypol/d for at least 3 months. Apparent gossypol toxicosis in goats consuming this amount of free gossypol indicates that goats may be more susceptible than cattle to this substance.