[Hematological effects produced on horses and sheeps pasturing upon Brachiaria radicans Napper (Tanner grass) in...

Hematological studies were developed on two mares and twelve adults castrate sheeps of "Ideal" breed. The animals had been on a pasture formed with Brachiaria radicans Napper for one and two months respectively. This experiment was developed in winter time, so the leaves of the graminea had a yellow-green color. Clinical and hematological observations were made weekly. The typical symptoms of intoxication failed to present as observed in the former investigation when the plant was green (3). The hematological exames showed only for ovines a slight anemia, it was also characterized as being macrocytic and hypochromic. Some red blood cells with basophillic stippling and the occurrence of anisocytosis was observed in the blood of anemic animals, but no methemoglobin and Heinz bodies were found. The Brachiaria radicans Napper, had a low level of nitrate (2) therefore the animal poisoning must be attributed to another plant component, not nitrate as admited in the first hematological study (12).