A Case of Choline Poisoning in Cattle

Abstract

IN cattle at Kiriat Anavim (Palestine) the following pathological symptoms were observed. After the first calving the uterus did not contract but remained open and atonic for a considerable time, thus forming a source of secondary infections. This condition, which could not be influenced by the usual medical treatment, resulted frequently in inability to conceive and in abortions. No primary infectious disease could be found nor did anatomical or histological examinations of the sexual organs yield any result. The foodstuffs given were the same as employed, usually in Palestine dairy farming. They were not deficient in nutrients, minerals and vitamins. The only unusual foodstuffs given were wet brewer's grains, which formed a considerable part of the rations for some years. Infected barley is known to have had detrimental effects in some cases, owing to an excessive content of amines1, especially free choline2. Since normal barley generally does not contain appreciable amounts of free choline, we undertook to compare the brewer's grains with normal barley in respect to their choline contents.