Sorghum poisoning in buffaloes and its treatment

Abstract

Sorghum (Jowar/Chari) is an important feedstuff for livestock. A negative characteristic of sorghum from an animal health perspective is its capabilities to cause cyanide poisoning. Cyanide can cause significant animal health problems including death. In the present study deals with an outbreak of sorghum poisoning from Nirdhari village of the Mandsaur district of the Madhya Pradesh in the month of May 2018 with a history of accidental ingestion of sorghum crops. A total of eight buffaloes were exposed, three animals found dead and five were severally affected with clinical symptoms like rapid and difficult breathing, dry noses, dilated pupils, motionless eyes, congested mucous membranes, muscle tremors, convulsions and recumbency. On post-mortem examination revealed that carcasses were bright cherry-red coloured blood, congestion of liver, lungs, kidney and congestion and petechial haemorrhages on the surface of the gastrointestinal tract. Based on history and clinical symptoms, affected animals were treated with sodium thiosulfate @ 25 gm/100 kg body weight intravenously. After medication animals were recovered within a day.