Red gut syndrome in lambs grazing lucerne

Authors: Gumbrell RC
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 21, Issue 8, pp 178-179, Aug 1973
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Abdomen, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Metabolic disease, Disease/defect, Nutrition/metabolism, Pasture/crop, Pathology, Poisoning - plant, Toxicology
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: A “red gut” syndrome associated with sporadic deaths of young sheep grazing lucerne in New Zealand has been reported by Gumbrell (1972) who has noted certain features of the condition, based on post-mortem findings at the Lincoln Animal Health Laboratory, Canterbury. The problem is difficult to investigate as affected animals almost invariably are found dead and autolysed and the incidence is usually not high. In trials with lambs grazing spring lucerne, conducted at Lincoln College from 1969 to 1971 (Jagusch et al 1970: Jagusch and McConnell, 1971; Jagusch et al 1971) 1 to 2% of deaths in experimental mobs of 60 to 150 lambs have been recorded. The “red gut” syndrome has been the constant feature of lambs examined post mortem…

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