Amaranthus retroflexus (redroot pigweed): inability to cause renal toxicosis in rabbits

Rabbits fed Amaranthus retroflexus (redroot pigweed) did not develop lesions of renal toxicosis reported in other species fed this plant. In feeding trials using adult and weanling rabbits, A retroflexus did not produce indications of renal involvement in rabbits. In both trials, treated rabbits had increased weight loss when compared with controls; however, the weight loss was not attributed to a toxic effect, but to previously described decreased palatability of Amaranthus spp.