Some Major Plant Toxicities of the Western United States

Abstract

Poisonous plants rank high among the causes of economic loss to the livestock industry. Losses come not only through death and disability of livestock but through costs associated with interference with management programs such as additional fencing and altered grazing program. One of the best means of avoiding poisonous plant problems is by complete familiarity with poisonous plants likely to be encountered by livestock. Important plants causing congenital birth defects; plants containing cyanide, oxalate, nitrates, selenium, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids; as well as a few specific plants as larkspurs and hemlock and those producing photosensitization are reviewed briefly and results of more recent research are considered.