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Description: The image above illustrates the cleft palate (palatoschisis) of a calf due to lupine toxicity. Cattle are poisoned by eating toxic lupine plants, particularly the seeds and pods, which are more toxic. Cows grazing on certain toxic species of lupine (L. sericeus, L. caudatus, L. laxiflorus, and L. sulphureus) between the 40th and 70th days of gestation often give birth to calves with cleft palates, crooked legs and distorted/malformed spines. Not all lupines are poisonous see NAL # 4625. Toxic lupines contain anagyrine, a quinolizidine alkaloid that is poisonous, and according to reports, velvet lupines (L. leucophyllus) are the most toxic type. Cattle may be poisoned by eating 0.5 to 1.0 kg of lupine and by smaller amounts if cattle eat it daily for 3 to 7 days. Signs of lupine toxicity include: nervousness, excessive salivation, frothing at the mouth, depression, reluctance to move, lethargy, inappetence, difficulty in breathing, twitching leg muscles, loss of all muscular control, convulsions, coma, and eventually death.

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