Lamsiekte (Parabotulism) in cattle in South Africa : osteophagia and phophorus deficiency in relation to lamsiekte

Abstract

Results obtained from the experiments on osteophagia showed: The immediate cause of bovine osteophagia is a deficiency of phosphorus in the veld vegetation of soils very low in phosphorus content; Osteophagia can be produced experimentally by feeding cattle upon an artificial ration very low in phosphorus; Osteophagia may occur in over 80% of cattle grazing over a lamsiekte area for the biggest part of the year; Supplementary foods such as maize and lucerne do not reduce osteophagia unless it is very rich in phosphorus and fed in uneconomical amounts; Osteophagia can be reduced by phosphatic manuring of the pasture; 3oz. of sterilized bonemeal per head per day is sufficient to keep osteophagia at very low level; Phosphorus rich materials such as wheaten bran or suitable manufactured phosphates are also efficient in reducing osteophagia;