Several species of Astragalus that contain organic nitro compounds were tested for toxicity to sheep and 1-week-old chicks. Methemoglobin analyses in sheep indicated that nitro compounds in A. diversifolius, A. convallarius, and A. pterocarpus resembled 3-nitro-1-propanol in toxicity and rate of absorption from the digestive tract. Nitro compounds in A. cibarius and A. canadensis were more closely related to 3-nitropropanoic acid in toxicity and rate of absorption. A. pterocarpus, A. convallarius, and A. diversifolius have been categorized as "Class I" species because they produce acute oral toxicity in sheep at less than 100 mg NO2/kg of body weight. "Class II" Astragalus (A. canadensis and A. cibarius) produce acute toxicity in sheep only if oral dosage exceeds 100 mg NO2/kg. Class I species are more likely to cause livestock losses on the range. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.