Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1920-01-31
MANY CATTLE IN SOUTHERN
 ARIZONA DYING FROM LOCO

Upon his return from trip of in vestigation of poisoning from loco on southern Arizona ranges Dr. R. H.. Williams, Animal Husbandman of the College of Agriculture, makes the fol- lowing report:
 "Widely scattered over southern Arizona loco has been causing a large number of deaths among cat tile. Santa Cruz and Cochise counties are particularly infested with the loco. There are various varieties of loco, but one can easily identify the weed for it is the only large green plant found on the desert. In general way it resembles alfalfa. The plant grows in small tuft from large tap root. The leaves are found on oppo- site sides of the branches in pairs. Most of them grow from six to ten inches high. The leaves are covered with small hairs. The younger ones are marrow and pointed while the old CT ones, are more rounded.
 "The animals show very little signs of poison until they consume upwards 5 of 800 pounds of loco. Apparently the best bred stock seem the most sus- ceptible to the disease. The stock thlt has been maintained in pastures or feed lots soon become attracted to the loco and begin eating it. After a few days, perhaps not more than two weeks, they will begin to froth at the
 mouth, have a peculiar grunting
 cough and be short of breath. Cows will frequently abort and gradually grow thin. They soon become weak and walk with stiff unsteady stride. If driven very far they will fall in a peculiar manner. The hind quarters seem to be paralyzed for the poison ed animals drop down in the Joins and the hind legs stiffen out behind them.
 "The only way to avoid losses by loco poisoning is to keep the stock from infested areas. Cattlemen are in no position to face heavy losses of animals. It would be better to take the stock off the ranges where loco is prevalent and rent pastures for them or else feed them hay and cake. The stock should be watched closely and as soon as they show signs of the poison they must be gathered and placed where there is no danger from loco: Stockmen can not afford to pay ten per cent. on money to buy cattle and lose them or the calf crop.
 "Locoed animals do not respond we'll to treatment. Losses may be re- duced by feeding stock we'll and often these animals can be sold at a prof it. It is best to discard them because the poison seems to remain over in the animal from year to year, and when beast eats about 800 pounds of the weed it will die. Thus, if COW eats 500 pounds this year and 200 pounds next year, the third and fourth year it may be poisoned and perhaps die after consuming about hundred pounds. Cattle that have shown effects of loco poison are sell dom good breeders and this is an ad- ditional reason for selling them as soon as fat.
 "Stockmen must face the loco prob lem and take active measures to pre- vent losses. There is no doubt that quite number of cattle have been poisoned in the southern part of the state. The upper San Carlos and San Pedro valleys have been worse to date. Over- grazing has injured the natural stand of the grass and allowed loco to flourish. Where only a few loco plants are found on range it would be good idea to pull up or spade off the tap root about two inches below the surface. Seed will continue to grow however and the plants they grow should be cut off as soon as they are found. With a little expense one can control the growth of loco where it is not very thick. Forum ately only three of the locoes have been proved to be poisonous, and there are 50 or more species of them. It seems useless to spend ones time to