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Halogeton Poisoning of Sheep: Effect Of High Level Oxalate Intake

U.S. Department of Agriculture and Utah State Agriculture Experiment Station, Logan 84321

Abstract

DIETS containing 0, 4, 5 and 6% soluble oxalate were fed to sheep for approximately 100 days. The oxalate was supplied in the form of halogeton. The oxalate caused a slight hypocalcemia, increased serum phosphorus, and decreased serum magnesium. There was no effect, however, on calcium, phosphorus, or magnesium balance. Plasma urea nitrogen decreased and blood alkaline phosphatase, pH, pCO₂ or pO₂ remained unchanged.

As the dietary oxalate increased, daily feed intake decreased, water intake increased, feces (wet) decreased and urine excretion increased.

These data indicate that sheep can consume large amounts of halogeton. Diets may contain up to 36% halogeton with 16.6% soluble oxalate without causing ill effects. The danger to grazing sheep on ranges containing large amounts of halogeton appears to involve conditions leading to acute intoxication and death rather than chronic effects.

¹ U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Veterinary Sciences Research Division, Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, 1150 East 14 North Logan, Utah 84321.

² Animal Science Department, Utah State University, Logan 84321.

³ The authors would like to thank Dr. Gary Richardson, Bio-metrical Service, A.R.S., U.S.D.A., Fort Collins, Colorado, for his assistance with the statistical analysis.

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