Bur buttercup poisoning of sheep

Abstract

Bur buttercup (Ceratocephalus testiculatus) has not been considered to be poisonous, but the sudden death loss of 150 ewes while grazing it prompted study of the plant. It was found that bur buttercup can be highly toxic to sheep, with a lethal dose being as little as 500 g of green plant for a 45-kg sheep. Clinical signs of bur buttercup poisoning are weakness, depression, diarrhea, labored breathing, anorexia, and occasional fever. Postmortem findings include inflammation and edema of the rumen; hemorrhage in the left ventricle of the heart; congestion of the lungs, liver, and kidneys; and excessive fluid in the thoracic and abdominal cavities.