ABSTRACT
There is no readily available diagnostic test for botu linum toxin. There was no access to poultry waste/carcasses, the most common source of botuli num toxin, but the farmer often shot a large number of feral pigeons in the shed that may have resulted in carcass contamination of the clamp silage which was not sheeted. ii. There is no specific treatment although cattle displaying only pelvic limb weakness may recover over 7-14 days. In this problem, one heifer deteriorated rapidly overnight (paralysis of tongue and masticatory muscles, head averted against chest) and was euthanased for welfare reasons. The other recumbent heifer was destroyed for welfare reasons 2 days later. iii. To control this problem the old silage was discarded and the new silage pit opened. No further cases of botulism were reported in this group. Other control measures include preventing access to potentially contaminated feedstuffs especially poultry waste. Poultry manure is often used as a fertilizer applied directly to pasture (1b). Several recent outbreaks of botulism have been tenta - tively linked to feeding bakery waste to cattle.
