The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Is there an antidote for cattle that have eaten sophora tetraptera and are not eating

Hi James, I would consult a vet ASAP. All parts are likely to be poisonous (see the factsheet for Sophora tetraptera on this website) The seeds of related Sophora species overseas are used as a fish poison. The active ingredient listed is Cytisine, but other alkaloids are likely to be present also. The Poisons Centre might also be of some assistance. Let us know how you get on.

I had cut a lot of limbs with foliage and seed pods and dumped into a paddock with 6 Hereford cows and 5 4 weak old calves .The next day the cows did not eat any hay and were hanging around the dam. The next morning one cow was down very week and showing signs of pain .A Vet saw the cow 4 hours later and put the cow down and performed an autopsy finding a large onion weed ball lodged in the stomach outlet presuming this was the problem.The next morning a second cow was dead on autopsy showed 2 onion weed balls lodged in the stomach outlet. I moved the remaining cows to another paddock ,2 of these cows were foaming at the mouth and not eating .This condition lasted for 4 days after which they started eating and now have made a full recovery.

Wow! I haven't heard of onion weed causing deaths. Just to be clear - you are talking of onion weed Allium triquetrum (http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=2483)? This is a common weed in some areas forming extensive patches. If it is this species we will put a note on the webpage letting people know it may be poisonous to stock. Thanks for letting us know the outcome - but sorry that you lost a couple of animals

The stomach contractions caused by the toxins in sopora tetraptera prunings forced the onion weed balls into the stomach outlet masking the real cause of death which was the toxins in the Sopora Tetrapora prunings