Department of Animal Science - Plants Poisonous to Livestock

PLEASE NOTE:
"Poisonous" does not mean deadly. Some manifestations of toxicity are subtle. The dose, as always, determines if a plant is safe source of nutrients or a toxic hazard.

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SMCO

Several Brassica species contain considerable levels of S-methyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide (SMCO), an amino acid which is degraded in the rumen to dimethyl disulphide and is thought to be the primary cause of haemolytic anemia.

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