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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #406819
Research Project: Understanding and Mitigating the Adverse Effects of Poisonous Plants on Livestock Production Systems

Location: Poisonous Plant Research

Title: Case report: Salvia reflexa-contaminated hay poisoning in cattle

Author
item Stonecipher, Clinton - Clint
item Gardner, Dale
item WEBB, BRETT - University Of Wyoming
item LAEGREID, WILL - University Of Wyoming
item Welch, Kevin
item Stegelmeier, Bryan
item Cook, Daniel

Submitted to: Bovine Practitioner Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/29/2024
Publication Date: 3/26/2024
Citation: Stonecipher, C.A., Gardner, D.R., Webb, B.T., Laegreid, W., Welch, K.D., Stegelmeier, B.L., Cook, D. 2024. Case report: Salvia reflexa-contaminated hay poisoning in cattle. The Bovine Practitioner. 58(1):63-68. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol58no1p63-68.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol58no1p63-68

Interpretive Summary: Salvia reflexa is an annual herb that has recently been reported to contaminate hay and cause fatal liver toxicity in cattle. It is possible that past poisoning cases may have been mis- or undiagnosed due to the lack of information on fatal liver toxicity caused by Salvia reflexa. Two cases are reported. Case 1 occurred in December 2001, in Montana, in which 30 cows died out of 105. Case 2 occurred in 2023, in Wyoming, in which 111 cows out of 155 died. Blood chemistry, from Case 1, and liver pathology from animals in both cases is similar to reports from clinical poisoning and experimental Salvia reflexa trials. Liver toxins from Salvia reflexa were detected in hay samples in both cases and in rumen contents from animals in Case 2. Plant specimens of Salvia reflexa were collected from two herbaria, representing collections from 12 states, and screened for liver toxins. The toxins were found in herbarium samples from all 12 states indicating that if Salvia reflexa is present it has the potential to be toxic to cattle.

Technical Abstract: Salvia reflexa is an annual herb that has recently been reported to contaminate hay and cause fatal hepatotoxicity in cattle. It is possible that past poisoning cases may have been mis- or undiagnosed due to the lack of information on fatal hepatotoxicity caused by S. reflexa. Two cases are reported. Case 1 occurred in December 2001, in Montana, in which 30 cows died out of 105. Case 2 occurred in 2023, in Wyoming, in which 111 cows out of 155 died. Blood chemistry, from Case 1, and liver pathology from animals in both cases is similar to reports from clinical poisoning and experimental S. reflexa trials. Hepatotoxic diterpenes of S. reflexa, salviarin and rhyacophiline, were detected in hay samples in both cases and in rumen contents from animals in Case 2. Plant specimens of S. reflexa were collected from two herbaria, representing collections from 12 states, and screened for salviarin and rhycophiline. The toxins were found in herbarium samples from all 12 states indicating that if S. reflexa is present it has the potential to be toxic to cattle.