Ergot Alkaloids
- Species: Sheep, cattle, pigs
- Specimen: Pasture in paper bag, grain in yellow top pot
- Special handling/shipping requirements: The feed needs to be as representative as possible to the feed that was being fed at the time of the problem occurring.
- Collection protocol: Using shears or scissors, cut a handful of pasture leaves from about 1 cm above ground level at not less than five places, which are at least 10 m apart, and submit in paper bags not plastic bags so as to avoid ” plant sweating”.
- General information about the disease: Ergot Alkaloids are mainly involved in heat stress, gangrene of the extremities and animal ill thrift. It is found in ‘wild-type’ rye grass and fescue. Many newer releases of pasture cultivars have been bred to reduce the level of these toxins.
Lolitrem B and ergovaline
- Species: Sheep, cattle, horses, deer, camelids
- Specimen: Pasture
- Container: Paper bag
- Special handling/shipping requirements: The feed needs to be as representative as possible to the feed that was being fed at the time of the problem occurring.
- Collection protocol: Using shears or scissors, cut a handful of pasture leaves from about 1 cm above ground level at not less than five places, which are at least 10 m apart, and submit in paper bags not plastic bags so as to avoid ” plant sweating”.
- General information about the disease: Lolitrem B, a potent tremorgen, is the predominant alkaloid involved in rye-grass staggers. Ergovaline, a vasoconstrictor, is also present. If you have rye grass, both ergovaline and lolitrem B can be present. If you want to have only one test done, a test for lolitrem B is recommended. If you have fescue, an ergovaline test is recommended. Other problems reported include ill-thrift, heat stress, scours, infertility and lowered milk production.
Other mycotoxins (contact the laboratory for information on availability and cost of testing)
- Lolitrem B for Perennial Ryegrass can also be tested in fat and faeces as an indication of exposure.
- Ergotamine / ergocristine / ergocryptine / ergocornine / ergosine arising from mould infestation in pasture and grain
- Peramine in Perennial Rye grass
- Lolines in fescue and other pastures
- Formononetin / genistein / diadzein / biochanin A / coumarin / coumestrol in clovers and pastures
- Volatile acids and lactic acid in water and silages
- Tyramines / Tryptamines in phalaris (in development)