Fescue foot induced by imported straw in Japanese Black cows

• Published in: Journal of the Japan Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 125 - 129
• Main Authors: Kamomae, M., Hyogo-ken. Wadayama Livestock Hygiene Service Center, Asago (Japan), Akiyama, T, Okada, H, Miyazaki, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: Japan Veterinary Medical Association 20.02.2010
• Subjects: AFFECTION PODALE; ALCALOIDE; ALCALOIDES; ALKALOIDS; CASCOS (ANIMAL); COWS; ENDOFITAS; ENDOPHYTE; ENDOPHYTES; ENFERMEDADES DE LOS PIES; ergovaline; feeding test; fescue foot; FESTUCA ARUNDINACEA; FOOT DISEASES; HOOVES; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1939; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_269; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2869; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3035; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_32439; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3658; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4039; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7441; JAPAN; Japanese Black breeding cows; JAPON; PAILLE; PAJA; SABOT; STRAW; VACA; VACHE
• ISSN: 0446-6454; 2186-0211
• DOI: 10.12935/jvma.63.125

Eight Japanese Black breeding cows in a farm holding 120 cows showed anorexia, discouragement, swelled pastern and lameness within a few days after changing roughage to tall fescue straw imported from the United States. One cow of the five severely affected animals the hoof capsule of its right hind leg. The suspected straw contained 1,200 microg/kg ergovaline, while the level of lolitrem B was below the detection limit (50 microg/kg). Nitrate nitrogen concentration of the straw was 630 mg/kg. Anorexia and discouragement were also observed in the cattle at one of the eight farms using tall fescue straw from the same shipment. From these observations, we diagnosed this case as fescue foot, although experimental feeding of the suspected straw to Japanese Black cows failed to reproduce clinical signs observed in the field case.