Toxic flowering plants in a Brazilian field subtly poisoning livestock.

Silent Threat: Are Toxic Plants in Brazil Poisoning Your Livestock?

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Swainsonine-containing plants are causing neurological disorders and economic losses in Brazilian herds. Learn how to protect your animals!"

In Brazil, a hidden danger lurks within seemingly harmless plants, posing a significant threat to livestock health and the livelihoods of farmers. These plants contain swainsonine, a toxic compound that leads to neurological disorders and substantial economic losses. Understanding this threat is the first step in protecting your animals.

Swainsonine disrupts the normal function of cells, leading to a range of health problems, most notably neurological issues. The plants of concern include various species within the Ipomoea genus (such as Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa, Ipomoea riedelii, Ipomoea sericophylla, and Ipomoea verbascoidea), as well as Turbina cordata and Sida carpinifolia. These plants cause a glycoprotein storage disease, primarily affecting goats, but also impacting cattle, horses, sheep, and deer to a lesser extent.

This article will explore the dangers these plants pose, what signs to watch for in your animals, and what steps you can take to manage and prevent swainsonine poisoning.

What Makes Swainsonine-Containing Plants So Dangerous?

Toxic flowering plants in a Brazilian field subtly poisoning livestock.

One of the most insidious characteristics of swainsonine-containing plants is their ability to create compulsive eating habits in animals. Once an animal starts consuming these plants, it develops a preference for them. This is worsened by social facilitation, where one animal's behavior encourages others in the herd to follow suit. This creates a cycle of poisoning that can quickly spread through a group of livestock.

The impact of swainsonine extends beyond individual animal health, leading to considerable economic consequences for farmers. Affected animals show reduced productivity, reproductive issues, and increased vulnerability to parasitic infections. In severe cases, the losses can be devastating, particularly in regions where these toxic plants are widespread.

Rough hair coat
Weight loss
Nervous signs (ataxia, hypermetria, tremors)
Infertility
Abortions
Weak newborns
Increased susceptibility to gastrointestinal parasites

It is critical to recognize that even after animals stop consuming the plants, some signs may persist, and chronic conditions can develop. Macroscopic observation might reveal cerebellar atrophy in chronically affected animals. Histological examination typically reveals vacuolization in neurons and in epithelial cells of the pancreas and kidney, as well as in thyroid follicular cells, hepatocytes and macrophages of lymphoid organs.

Protecting Your Livestock from Swainsonine Poisoning

Managing swainsonine poisoning requires a multi-faceted approach. The most immediate step is to remove affected animals from pastures where these plants are present. Because of the compulsive eating habits these plants induce, it's crucial to prevent animals from returning to contaminated areas. The only true prophylactic measure is to eliminate the plants from grazing areas or to discourage animals from consuming them.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1590/s0103-84782013000400014, Alternate LINK

Title: Intoxicação Por Plantas Que Contêm Swainsonina No Brasil

Subject: General Veterinary

Journal: Ciência Rural

Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)

Authors: Carlos Alberto De Oliveira Júnior, Gabriela Riet-Correa, Franklin Riet-Correa

Published: 2013-04-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is swainsonine and why is it a threat to livestock in Brazil?

Swainsonine is a toxic compound found in certain plants that poses a significant threat to livestock in Brazil. It leads to neurological disorders and economic losses. The compound disrupts the normal function of cells, which causes a range of health problems in animals, with neurological issues being the most prominent. This can lead to reduced productivity, reproductive issues, and increased vulnerability to parasitic infections.

Which plants in Brazil contain swainsonine and pose a risk to livestock?

Several plants in Brazil contain swainsonine and are dangerous to livestock. These include species within the Ipomoea genus (such as Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa, Ipomoea riedelii, Ipomoea sericophylla, and Ipomoea verbascoidea), as well as Turbina cordata and Sida carpinifolia. These plants can cause a glycoprotein storage disease in animals.

What are the visible signs of swainsonine poisoning in livestock?

Signs of swainsonine poisoning in livestock include a rough hair coat, weight loss, nervous signs like ataxia, hypermetria, and tremors. Animals may also experience infertility, abortions, and the birth of weak newborns. Furthermore, livestock affected by swainsonine poisoning will have increased susceptibility to gastrointestinal parasites. Chronic conditions can develop even after animals stop consuming the plants.

How does swainsonine cause compulsive eating habits in animals, and why is this a problem?

Swainsonine-containing plants induce compulsive eating habits in animals. Once an animal starts consuming these plants, it develops a preference for them. This behavior is further worsened by social facilitation, where one animal's behavior encourages others to follow suit. This creates a dangerous cycle of poisoning, spreading quickly through a group of livestock. The animal becomes addicted to the plant, which then leads to increased health complications.

What steps can farmers take to protect their livestock from swainsonine poisoning?

Managing swainsonine poisoning requires a multi-faceted approach. The most immediate step is to remove affected animals from pastures where the swainsonine-containing plants are present. Because of the compulsive eating habits these plants induce, it is crucial to prevent animals from returning to contaminated areas. The only effective preventive measure is to eliminate the plants from grazing areas or to discourage animals from consuming them. Regular monitoring of the pastures and the animals' health is also important.