Sorghum ergot (Claviceps africana) associated with agalactia and feed refusal in pigs and dairy cattle.

摘要

A syndrome characterized by feed refusal, death of piglets and reduced milk production in pigs and dairy cattle, occurred in 10 pig and 4 dairy herds, located between 50 and 150 km southwest of Rockhampton (Queensland, Australia) between August andmid-October 1997. All cases were associated with the feeding of sorghum grain infected with sorghum ergot. Four pig herds were examined clinically. Sows fed ergot before farrowing had shrunken udders, produced no colostrum and displayed signs of oestrus.All of their piglets died, apparently from starvation: necropsy of a few piglets showed that they were born alive and walked, but had ingested no milk. Sows fed the grain after farrowing had severe reductions in milk production despite aggressive sucking by piglets, leading to very poor growth of piglets. There were no signs of infectious disease. Ergot in sorghum samples from the pig farms ranged from 1 to 31% ergot sclerotes by weight. Total alkaloid concentrations in mixed feeds ranged from 5 to 40mg/kg, with dihydroergosine accounting for approximately 90%. Grain samples from the 4 dairy farms contained up to 17% C. africana ergot sclerotia. It is concluded that sorghum ergot can inhibit milk production in a similar manner to rye ergot.