Toxic/Poisonous to Livestock Plants of Mongolian Rangelands

Daalkhaijav Damiran and Enkhjargal Darambazar Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Union, OR-97883, Oregon, USA

Briefly about Mongolian rangelands

Mongolian natural rangeland covers 128.8 million ha. There are about 2823

vascular plant species and over 662 genera and 128 families have been recorded

(Gubanov, 1996). Mongolian rangeland can be divided into 4-5 zones according to

locations that differ in landscape, annual and seasonal climatic conditions, species

composition and growth rate: high mountains, forest-steppe, steppe, desert-steppe and

desert belt. Desert-steppe and desert belt account for 44.6% of the pastureland and the

main domestic herbivores are camels and goats. Forest-steppe and high mountains

accounts for 27.4% and the main domestic herbivores are cattle, sheep, horse and yaks.

The rest 28% of the pastureland belongs to steppe and is the main stock-raising zone for

cattle, sheep, horse, camels and goats. Mongolia is the only country of Eurasia to retain

huge areas of steppes vegetation (Gunin et al. 1999).

Mongolian rangeland is distributed over the extremely continental climate with

harsh continental and extremely unpredictable climatic conditions. North and central part

of country’s isohyets of 250-300 mm annual rainfall and over the southern-desert part of

the country 50 to 100 mm annual rainfall.

In Mongolia, the growing season is short and very dependent on climate,

particularly rainfall. New growth in the forest steppe and steppe zones begins in mid-

April, whereas elsewhere it may not begin until mid-May. Growth is often very slow, and

the grazing of young grass may only be possible after 30-35 days. Livestock, therefore,

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consume small amount of fresh grass/forage in April/May along with larger amounts of

senescent material. From June to September, nearly the entire intake is of fresh forage.

Some forage plant species reach their final growth stage in August and show signs of

senescence, although other plant species may have vegetative growth till mid-September

and some remain green until mid-October. During the growing season some areas remain

ungrazed to be harvested and conserved as hay or left to provide standing forage during

the winter (Daalkhaijav, 1995; Murray et al., 1998). Therefore Mongolian animals

changeover from consumption of dead grass to fresh forage over a period of 10-11

weeks, and from fresh forage to standing dead over 5-6 weeks. This has the advantage in

that it allows development of stable activity of rumen microbes on both diets due to

gradual changeover (Daalkhaijav, 1995). Thus Mongolian livestock may rely on

senescent grasses as its main feed for about 200 days. From the point of the view of

toxicology there are some advantages. This gradual changeover prevents animals from

diarrhea which is caused by lush spring pasture. Animals’ long time foraging by standing

dead has some positive effects, in particular, it reduces possibility of plant poisoning,

since plants usually contain more toxicants in their growing (green) season.

Mongolian traditional livestock management method such as keeping all types of

animals in one grazing together might allow them to avoid plant toxicities, due to a

possibility of one type of animal influencing the other beneficially by consuming the

plants which might be toxic to others by those which are resistant. Also Mongolian

nomadic way of leading animal husbandry that is a selective use of rangeland through

year round moving from one pasture to another may have a positive effect to avoiding

animals poisoning.

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Livestock number in Mongolia is increasing significantly in last couple of years.

Heavy grazing results in strong vegetation degradation. All plant community indices

decline, community structure is simplified, and floristic richness declines (Gunin et al.

1999). Such vegetation degradation will drive to decreasing pasture yield, which

eventually would likely to lead to limiting forage choices for animals and increasing

animal poisoning incidents from poisonous plants and losses.

Thoughts on toxic /poisonous plants of Mongolian rangelands

Plants contain toxic substances to protect themselves from herbivore. Animals

also have been exposed to toxic constituents of plants during their long period of co-

evolution and have developed numerous biochemical strategies for detoxification of

poisonous compounds (chemical defenses). Detoxification in the digestive tract is very

common and evolved ways of detoxification of invertebrate and vertebrate. These include

chemical and microbiological detoxification mechanisms in the gastrointestinal tract, a

host of detoxifying enzymes in the liver and similar enzymes in all other tissues (Cheeke,

1998).

From ancient times the Mongols have herded five kinds of animals (sheep, goat,

cattle/yak, horse, and camel) in the severe Central Asian climate, have grazed them

throughout the year on open pastures. Investigation of the relationship between plant

toxicants and Mongolian range animals should be of higher scientific and practical as

well as theoretical interest since Mongolian range animals have been through a long

evolutionary process to build up protection from poisonous plants (Figure 1) and they can

obtain over 95% of their annual feed intake requirements from pasture along.

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There were not so much available published sources, specifically focused on toxic

plants on Mongolian rangelands. We’ve screened some key review books related to

rangeland and forage plant investigation (Yunatov 1954, Tserendulam 1980, Jigjidsuren

1984, and Ulziikhutag 1984, 1985, Grubov 2001) of Mongolia. Special chapters or parts

defined to plant toxicity/poison were not found (toxic dose, toxicity rating, dangerous

parts of plant, signs, first aid, and etc.,) in those reference materials, although when they

give descriptions about nutritive significance they mentioned, which plant is the most

toxic, when, and its species susceptibility. However, this information (Table1) about

plant toxicity was based mostly on folk sources obtained from herdsmen, which present

difficulties to make “inferences”.

Information on species susceptibility, for example, which type of animal how

much (consumed amount animal body weight ratio) is toxicated was not clearly

determined; it was stated that Senecio jacobaea is toxic for sheep and goats, which was

not similar in North American studies (Cheeke 1998) about this species toxicity. It

should be noted that there were included only those plant species which cause significant

toxicity, but were not mentioned moderately or mild toxic plants at all. So the table

presented here is made by gathering and abstracting the information from various kinds

of sources and summarizing it to make a brief report.

Recently a research was done about a toxic plant called Ammopiptanthus

mongolicus (Mongol monkh khargana) and the scientists from the Research Institute of

Animal Husbandry, Mongolia have derived a component of alkaloid type and found it

effective for promoting animal growth, which is now being introduced to practice.

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Historically, the Mongols have accumulated wide experience of treating of

poisoned animals. Medicinal preparation used by the Mongols can be divided into three

groups: of animal, vegetable and mineral origin. They include sour milk, airag (fermented

mare’s milk), dairy home-brew, meat and bone broth, bile, blood, horns and bones of

various wild animals, soot and ashes of individual tree species, various plants, natural

salts, agates, sulphur, copper, silver and others (Dash 1990), either in natural form or as

components of compound prescriptions. Bloodletting is very widely used on poisoned

animals. For horse alone, herders use more than 30 points for bloodletting. Though

traditional methods of poisoned animal treatment gradually ignored for years in

Mongolia.

Toxic/poisonous plants and human health concerns

Like other nations, the Mongols have number of ways of avoiding natural

toxicants. One example is the Mongols drink green tea, prepared with some milk and a

pinch of salt, brewed by boiling it for couple of minutes. Generally, consumption of high

tannins is the cause of high incidences of esophageal cancer. Tannins in tea have also

been implicated. According to Cheeke (1998) addition of cream or milk to tea eliminates

this effect, because of formation of a protein-tannin complex. Sodium of salt would be

also useful, because it will form metal-tannin complex. Low incidence of esophageal

cancer among the Mongols might be explained by this, by adding milk and salt to green

tea. There are number of such kind of examples.

The Mongols should be more concerned, however, about natural toxins,

especially plant toxins due to their preferences to animal originated food, which is related

to the traditional nomadic way of life. There is some incidence of mental or neurological

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diseases mainly among people in some parts of semi-desert and desert zones of the

country who make their living by raising goats, which might be partly related to their

consumption of raw milk from goats grazed on arid land plants which tend to have

elevated contents of toxic chemical substances. Goats would be a more likely source of

contaminated milk than cattle, because of their tendency to eat many poisonous to other

animals plants, since they are more resistant to many plant toxins. For example, they

readily consume Senecio spp. which contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (Cheeke 1998).

Also, herders’ children spend all day long on pasture land herding their livestock

and tend to have incidents to be poisoned by accidentally consuming adverse plants by

chewing or eating berries.

Implementations

• Wider investigation and publication of research results on toxic plants of

Mongolian rangelands are needed.

• Training students, extension specialists and herders about toxic plants and

methods of prevention and treatment is necessary.

• More research needs to be done on collecting and recreating traditional methods

of prevention and treatment of plant toxicity to provide scientifically justified

reference materials.

• Intensive investigation of digestive tract microorganisms in Mongolian range

animals should be also an interesting topic from the point of animal adaptation to

toxic plants.

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References

Cheeke P, 1998. Natural toxicants in feeds, forages, and poisonous plants. Interstate

Publishers, Inc. 479 p.

Daalkhaijav D, 1995. Carbohydrate content and nutritive value of forages. Thesis.

Mongolian Agricultural University. 180p. (in Mongolian).

Dash M, 1991. Mongolian traditional veterinary medicine. International workshop on

pastoralism and socio-economic development. FAO, UN. 97p.

Grubov V.I., 2001. Key to the vascular plants of Mongolia. Science Publishers, Inc. 817

p.

Gubanov, I.A. 1996. Conspectus of flora of Outer Mongolia (vascular plants). Valang

Publishers, Moscow, 136 p. (in Russian).

Gunin, P.D., E.A. Vostokova, N.I. Dorofeyuk, P. E. Tarasov, and C.C. Black. 1999.

Vegetation dynamics of Mongolia. Kluwer Academic Publisher. 238 p.

Jigjidsuren S., (ed.,) 1984. Encyclopedia of Mongolian pasture and forages. State

Publishing House, Ulaanbaatar, 376 p. (in Mongolian).

Murray, A.H., D. Daalkhaijav and C.D. Wood. 1998. Rumen degradability and chemical

content of Mongolian pastures: J. Tropical Science, 38:198-205.

Tserendulam R., 1980. Table of Mongolian forage nutritive value. State Publishing

House. Ulaanbaatar. 231 p. (in Mongolian).

Ulziikhutag N (ed.,), 1984. Dictionary of terminology of Mongolian plants. State

Publishing House, Ulaanbaatar, 360 p. (in Mongolian).

Ulziikhutag N, 1985. Taxonomy of Mongolian fodder and pasture plants. State

Publishing House. Ulaanbaatar. (in Mongolian).

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Yunatov A.A., 1954. Forage plants of pastures and meadows of the MPR. USSR

Academy of Sciences Publishing House, Moscow, Leningrad, 352 p. (in Russian).

Figure 1. This picture is taken in Zavkhan aimag, Mongolia. The goats and sheep arelicking the soil in which they have already made holes. The soil color shows that it might be high in the ionophoric compounds content. Animals can consume soils that will reduce their mineral deficiency and improve ionophoric capability. The ionophore alters ruminal microbial populations and reduces toxin absorption of digestive tract. The most common toxic plants that may occur in this area are: Astragalus variables, A. galactites Pall, and Ammoriptanthus mongolicus (photo by D.Damiran, 2002).

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Table 1 Main toxic/poisonous plants of the Mongolian Rangelands

Note: T= toxic/poisonous Seasons Scientific name Local name (Mongolian)

Affected type of animals

Winter (Dec-March)

Spring (Marsh- May)

Summer (June-August)

Autumn (Sept- Nov.)

Equisetum fluviatila L. Goliin shivlee Cattle T T Goat T T Sheep T T Horse T T Ephedra equisetina Bung.

Shivleekhei zeergene

Catte T T T T Goat T T T T Sheep T T T T Horse T T T T Ephedra monosperma Gmel.

Yamaan zeergene

Goats T T Sheep T T Alisma plantago-aquatica L.

Tavan salaan usan tyuryu

Goat T T T T Sheep T T T T Achnatherum inebrians Keng.

Khoron ders

Camel T T T T Catte T T T T Goat T T T T Sheep T T T T Festuca sibirica Hack. Sibir botuuli Cattle T Goat T Horse T Sheep T Veratrum nigrum L. Khar balchirgana Cattle T T T T Goat T T T T Horse T T T T Sheep T T T T Veratrum lobelianum Bernh.

Lobeliin balchirgana

Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Polygonatum sibiricum Del.

Sibir mukhartsagaan

Cattle T T Goat T T Sheep T T

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Polygonatum humile Fishh.

Namkhan mukhartsagaan

Cattle T T Goat T T Horse T T Sheep T T Polygonatum odoratum Druce.

Ankhiluun mukhartsagaan

Cattle T T Goat T T Horse T T Sheep T T Betula rotundifolia Spach.

Togrognavchit khus

Camel T T Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Anabasis truncata Bung. Tanamal bagluur Camel T T T T Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horse T T T T Sheep T T T T Anabasis eriopoda L. Nooson shilbet bagluur Camel T T T T Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Anabasis aphylla L. Navchgui bagluur Camel T T T T Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Anabasis elatior Schischk.

Sunagar bagluur

Camel T T T T Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Ceratophyllum demersum L.

Jivee yulgene

Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Nymphaea candida J. Baigaliin khors Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T

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Sheep T T Aconitum excelsum Reich.

Umardiin khors

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Aconitum barbatum Pers.

Sakhalt khors

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Ranunculus sceleratus L. Khort kholtsontsetseg Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Ranunculus pulchellus C.A.Mey.

Goyo kholtsontsetseg

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Ranunculus japonicus Thunb.

Yapon kholtsontsetseg

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Sedum aizoon L. Yulden mogoin idee Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Ammopiptanthus mongolicus Cheng.

Mongol monkhkhargana

Camel T T T T Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Sophora alopecuroides L.

Yunegen-syuyulkhii lider

Camel T T T T Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Sophora flavescens Soland.

Shargal lider

Camel T T T T Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T

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Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Thermopsis alpina Ledeb.

Tagiin tarvagan shiir

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Thermopsis przewalskii Czefr.

Prjevalskiin tarvagan shiir

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Thermopsis schishkinii Czefr.

Shishkhinii tarvagan shiir

Camel T T Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Thermopsis dahurica Czefr.

Daguur tarvagan shiir

Camel T T Cattle T T Horses T T Sheep T T Thermopsis grubovii Czefr.

Griboviin tarvagan shiir

Camel T T Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Thermopsis mongolica Czefr.

Mongol tarvagan shiir

Camel T T Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Thermopsis longicarpa Ulzij.

Urtbuurtsagt tarvagan shiir

Camel T T Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Astragalus chorinensis Bung.

Khori khunchir

Cattle T T Goats T T Horse T T

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Sheep T T Astragalus kaufmannii Kryl.

Kauphmanii khunchir

Cattle T T Goats T T Horse T T Sheep T T Agtragalus versicolor Pall.

Ereen khunchir

Cattle T T Goats T T Horse T T Sheep T T Astragalus variabilis Bung.

Khuvisamtgai khunchir

Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horse T T T T Sheep T T T T Astragalus galactites Pall.

Tsagaalin khunchir

Goats T T Sheep T T Oxytropis glabra Lam. Nyutsgan ortuuz Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Oxytropis salina Vass. Martsnii ortuuz Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Oxytropis trichophysa Bung.

Ustkhyoyongo ortuuz

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Oxytropis muricata Pall.

Zyoyolyon orgost ortuuz

Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Oxalis acetosella L. Egel isreg Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Zygophyllum brachyterum Kar.

Akhardevyuyurt khotir

Camel T T Cattle T T

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Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz.

Bavgarjimst agzaakhai

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Cicuta virosa L. Khakhuun goliin khor Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Apocynum hendersonii L.

Gendersonii shonokhor

Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Poacynum pictum Ball. Tsookhor chonokhor Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Cynoctonum purpureum Pall.

Ulbalzuur yukhdee

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Vincetoxicum sibiricum L.

Sibir eryondyogno

Camel T T T T Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Solanum septemlobum Bung.

Doloodoi tsetsentser

Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Solanum depilatum Kitag.

Ishlegdyy tsetsentser

Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Hyoscyamus niger L. Khar lantanz Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T

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Sheep T T T T Physochlaina physaloides L.

Yagaan khyunkhors

Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Linaria acutiloba Fisch. Khurtssalvant zajluurgana Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Linaria buriatica Turcz. Buriad zojirgono Camel T T Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Pedicularis abrotanifolia M.Bieb.

Sharilj navchit khuvilangi

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Senecio vulgaris L. Egel zokhimon Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Senecio nemorensis L. Naimaldai zokhimon Camel T T Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Senecio jacobaeba L. Yakhoviin zokhimon Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horses T T T T Sheep T T T T Yaks T T T T Senecio arcticus Rupr. Tuiliin zokhimon Cattle T T T T Goats T T T T Horse T T T T Sheep T T T T Saussurea involucrata Sch.

Nyomryogt banzdoo

Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Saussurea salicifolia L. DC.

Burgas nashit banzdoo

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Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Saussurea salsa Pall. Martsnii banzdoo Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T Acroptilon repens Cass. Myolkhyoyo czashiv Cattle T T Goats T T Horses T T Sheep T T

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