Wasting and death in cattle associated with chronic grazing of Brachiaria decumbens

Abstract

Progressive wasting was observed in 4/1000 steers grazing Brachiaria decumbens pastures. Yellow liver and whitish hard nodules in the mesenteric and hepatic lymph nodes were observed at necropsy. At histologic examination multifocal accumulation of foamy macrophages were in the livers, spleens, lmph nodes, and intestinal submucosa. It is suggested that the wasting syndrome was due to the intestinal granulomatous lesions of B decumbens.