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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #299462
Title: Early season grazing by cattle of waxy larkspur (Delphinium glaucescens) in Central Idaho

Author
item Pfister, James
item Cook, Daniel
item Gardner, Dale
item BAKER, SARAH - University Of Idaho

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/12/2013
Publication Date: 8/30/2013
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/63221
Citation: Pfister, J.A., Cook, D., Gardner, D.R., Baker, S.D. 2013. Early season grazing by cattle of waxy larkspur (Delphinium glaucescens) in Central Idaho. Rangelands. 35(4):2-5.

Interpretive Summary: Toxic larkspurs (Delphinium spp.) in western North America are abundant native plants on foothill and mountain rangelands. Previous analysis for toxic alkaloids in waxy larkspur indicated that this plant was highly toxic. However, no information on cattle grazing of waxy larkspur was available. We conducted a grazing study in spring, 2012 near Challis, Idaho, and found that cattle consumed sufficient quantities of waxy larkspur to become poisoned. The risk of death losses by cattle is particularly high because of the very high concentrations of alkaloids in young waxy larkspur plants.

Technical Abstract: Toxic larkspurs (Delphinium spp.) in western North America are abundant native plants on foothill and mountain rangelands. Previous analysis for toxic alkaloids in waxy larkspur indicated that this plant was highly toxic. However, no information on cattle grazing of waxy larkspur was available. We conducted a grazing study in spring, 2012 near Challis, Idaho, and found that cattle consumed sufficient quantities of waxy larkspur to become poisoned. The risk of death losses by cattle is particularly high because of the very high concentrations of alkaloids in young waxy larkspur plants.