Brachiaria decumbens poisoning by ingestion in cattle in Brazil and pathological findings: Review

Abstract

This literature review aims to present the importance of the grass Brachiaria decumbens in the animal production of cattle, discussing factors such as animal weight gain, palatability, nutritional quality of the grass, and edaphoclimatic factors that influence the process of weight gain. Subsequently, it will also include negative points such as intoxication due to the high consumption of grass, toxic principle, other pathologies and their commonly associated findings in cattle. In the current scenario, Brazil has the largest commercial herd of beef cattle in the world, and the national livestock is basically pasture, data indicate that 80% of the herd is raised in pastures and the grasses of the genus Brachiaria are the largest source of food. B. decumbens intoxication affects cattle, goats, sheep, buffaloes, and can occur at any time of the year, reporting more cases in the dry season. In cattle occurs mainly in calves near weaning or recently weaned, Brachiaria contains lithogenic steroidal saponins that induce the formation of crystals in the biliary system, one of the causes of bovine liver disease. In cattle, the first clinical signs of intoxication are characterized by loss of appetite, depression, anorexia, decreased or stopped ruminal movements, sialorrhea and dry stools. For these reasons, calves should not be weaned in areas with Brachiaria decumbens, since the stress of weaning added to the age of the animal and the possible existence of genetically susceptible animals are some of the crucial factors for the appearance of some disease