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Sulfur-induced polioencephalomalacia in stocker calves
G A Niles1, S E Morgan, W C Edwards
1Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078, USA.
Veterinary and Human Toxicology
|September 26, 2000
Summary
High sulfur in corn by-product feeds caused polioencephalomalacia (brain disease) in calves, leading to neurological signs and death. This highlights a critical dietary risk associated with popular, low-cost livestock feed ingredients.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Animal Nutrition
- Toxicology
Background:
- Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) is a neurological disease affecting ruminants.
- Corn by-products like corn gluten feed and corn steep liquor are increasingly used in livestock diets due to cost-effectiveness.
- These by-products can contain elevated levels of sulfur.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of neurological disease and death in calves on three farms.
- To identify potential dietary risk factors associated with the observed clinical signs and mortality.
- To correlate brain lesions with specific dietary components.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case description of affected calves, including symptoms and necropsy findings.
- Dietary analysis from three affected farms, focusing on sulfur content in feed ingredients.
- Pathological examination of brain tissues to confirm polioencephalomalacia.
Main Results:
- Calves presented with classic signs of polioencephalomalacia: blindness, head pressing, and circling.
- Brain lesions consistent with polioencephalomalacia were confirmed histopathologically.
- Elevated sulfur levels were detected in the diets of all affected farms, primarily from corn by-products and molasses-based supplements.
Conclusions:
- Excessive dietary sulfur, particularly from corn by-products, is strongly implicated as the cause of polioencephalomalacia in these calves.
- The increased use of these cost-effective feed ingredients presents a growing risk for sulfur-induced toxicosis in livestock.
- Veterinarians and nutritionists should be aware of this association when diagnosing neurological diseases in cattle consuming corn-derived feedstuffs.
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