The effect of feeding dried tomato vines to beef cattle

Vet Hum Toxicol. 1996 Apr;38(2):135-6.

Abstract

Dried Tomato vines (DTV) are used as a feedstuff in some beef cattle in Israel, despite the literature citation that tomato vines contain potentially harmful steroid alkaloids. A small-scale feeding trial over 42 d examined possible deleterious effects of feeding DTV, compared with wheat straw, in beef cows. No differences in hematological values, serum parameters for body weight were seen between the 2 groups. Steroid alkaloid content of the DTV was not examined, but toxic levels of nitrates were found. The main practical hazard in feeding DTV would appear to be from their potentially high nitrate content.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids / toxicity*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animal Feed / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / etiology
  • Erythrocyte Count / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hematocrit
  • Hemoglobins / drug effects
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Israel
  • Plant Poisoning / veterinary
  • Progesterone / blood
  • Solanum lycopersicum / toxicity*

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Biomarkers
  • Hemoglobins
  • Progesterone