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Show r- - FINO POISON PUINTIN UTAH Department of Agriculture Is Investigating Losses to Grazing Livestock I A plant of the pea family, known, to botanists as the astragalus tetrapterus, mowing in the foothills of southern Utah and western Nevada, has been found to bo poisonous to cattle and sheep Further search may indicate a wider range of growth. The United States department of agriculture, which has been making a preliminary investigation of the effects of this plant, considers it a sufficient menace men-ace to warrant a preliminary warning, be The plant occurs in scattered patches never in largo quantities as is the case with some of the recognized loco plants. It blooms early in June and generally dries up later in the summer It is a perennial legumious plant belonging be-longing to tho same family as the locoes, lo-coes, alfalfa, etc It stands from 1 to 2 feet high. It has linear leaves, small and rather inconspicuous flowers of a light purple and peculiar pods possessing possess-ing four wings a feature which makes Identification rather easy. Early ia tho season before new pods I are formed those of the preceding year ordinarily can bo found on the old plants. Apparently the symptoms caused by eating this poisonous weed are not es-. pecially characteristic. The animals affected, af-fected, staggers as it walks, the weakness weak-ness being more pronounced in the hind legs. In the case of a steer, there were milk spasms with violent expirations. expira-tions. In a sheep, which was killed by eating the plant, there was nausea and an excessive flow of saliva in addition ad-dition to depression and weakness. At this stage of the investigation' no advice can be given as to the treat-1 ment of poisoned animals, the federal ..'scientists slate. Stockmen should rec-oglze, rec-oglze, however, that the plant is injuri-nils injuri-nils to mtte and shppn. anrl nrnhnhlv! ' also to horses. When other forage is lacking tho eating of this plant in large quantities may cause serious losses. If a heavily grazed range where the plant is abundant is used, it is reasonable to expect some deaths among the animals. Those becoming affected should be removed to where they can get abundant food. Probably alfalfa pasture is .particularly desir-' desir-' able. That stockmen and others interested in this question may be able to identify iden-tify tho plant definitely, the department depart-ment of agriculture has published an Illustrated department circular. No. SI, copies of which may be had by writing j to the department, Washington, D. C. |