The Newark journal., 1919-10-23

Prepared by the United States Depart
 ment of Agriculture)
 Range live stock in large areas of the western states is constantly sub jeet to poisoning by loco weeds which. If eaten freely, cause symptoms of madness or insanity, and, eventually death The danger is especially great when green grass is short and the ani- malls are obliged to rely on weeds and bushes for food. To assist stockmel in preventing losses from loco poison ing, investigations have been made to combat the danger and numerous facts of value have been obtained.
 There are three poisonous loe8es- purple loco, white loco and the blue loco or "rattleweed' of Arizona and New Mexico.
 Different Loco Weeds.
 The purple loco weed is q perennial which grows in patches on adobe soils. attaining height of two feet, and gen erally occupying a space of about two feet in diameter. It's flowers are rather fneonspicuous, being deep purple in color. It is sometimes called "Wooliy loco, because it's leaflets are denseiy covered With hairs. It occurs as far north as South Dakota, as far south as Mexico, as far west as Arizona, while it's eastern limit is central Kan sas and Nebraska
 The white loco, familiar in Wyoming. Montana and Colorado, is called the "stemless Ioco," because it has uo true stem. It's habitat is from Alaska to Mexico. as far east as central Mime sota, and as far west as central Utah and Arizona. It grows abundantly on sandy soils, and in parts of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana at this weeds hlossoming time large areas are as white as though covered with snow.
 The blue loco of Arizona, New Aexi- co, and parts of Colorado, Utah. and California, grows abundantly, appear ing in some localities early in Fchru- ary and maturing aud drying up early in the summer. This plant is poison ous to cattle and sheep, but iS espe- cially injurious to horses. MiScoucep- tion has confused with the locoes scy- eral leguminous plants which are either harmless or valuable as forage crops. However. there are only three true loco varieties.
 Purple Loco Kills Horses.
 The purple loco weed Is rarely in- furious to cattle, but it Is very harm full to horses. However, the horses will not eat this weed unless forced to it to prevent starvation. On the other hand, horses, cattle and sheep Will eat white loco weed readily, particularly when grass is scarce. During the spring before the grass starts where the white loco weed Is abundant. prac- tieally all animals eat some of it. When grass is plentiful later on most animals taboo the loco, but some of them have acquired q taste for the weed and gradually eat more and more of if. Finally they become confirmed addicts to the loco habit, which ultimately re suits in their death. Sheep. also, are poisoned in much the same way aS horses and cattle, the effect ef the drug being particularly noticeable on lambs. as frequently they die within two weeks after they begin to eat the weed, and without any marked loss of flesh. Under similar conditions of short feed the blue loco weed is eaten late in the winter. Because of its great poisonous effect on horses great dam age may be done in very short time, more quickly than in the case of the other loco plants.
 As a rule the native breeds" of live stock are much less likely to be loeoed than imported animals not familiar with the plants, and which in many cases do not have the habit of "rustling,' so that they are inclined to eat the feed which is most easily ob- tained. Generally speaking, the finer breeds of cattle and horses are more likely to be locoed than the poorer breeds. The same thing applies to sheep, 1t being particularly noticeable that the black faces are much more susceptible than are the Merinos.
 Symptoms of Loco Poisoning.
 Loco poisoning in horses is first in dicated by change in the general condition of the animal, high-spiritea horse becoming dull, and later on de veloping irregularity in it's gait and mode of eating. The horse drags it's feet and shows signs of loss of nor nal muscular control. As the disease the animal shuns the com pany of its mates and seems to lose very largely it's nervous sensibility. IT is dangerous to ride or drive such 2 horse as the animal shies at imagin- ary objects and is not sure on it's feet In the later stages of the disease tEe animal loses flesh, it's coat becomes rough. and eventually 1t ceases to eat and dies.
 Similar SEmDtons ehtafn in tho o.,.,. .e