98 STOCK-POISONING PLANTS OF MONTANA. 



recover from the effects of the loco weed. Other sheep raisers have 

 had similar experience with locoed sheep. There seems to be little 

 doubt that such sheep may be brought to a good condition for market 

 even after being addicted to the loco habit for a whole season. 



Although, as just indicated, an apparent recover}^ may be brought 

 about in locoed sheep and horses, such animals when allowed to run 

 upon the range again almost invariabl}^ return to their old habit of 

 eating loco weeds. Animals which have once been locoed are, there- 

 fore, not to be considered suitable for stocking the range for the reason 

 that the majority of them will become locoed again, and for the addi- 

 tional reason that other animals will learn the habit and the loco disease 

 will thus spread among the stock. 



The recommendation concerning locoed animals which is most in 

 accord with reason and the experience of practical stockmen is to 

 remove immediatel}^ all locoed animals from contact with other animals. 

 Following this action it would seem to be advisable, when possible, to 

 place such animals on ranges where the locoweed does not grow and 

 allow them to remain in such situations until winter. During the 

 winter locoed sheep should be fed upon a nutritious diet, and such of 

 them as become fat should be sold for mutton at the conclusion of the 

 feeding period. The few sheep which do not respond to this treat- 

 ment may as well be killed and skinned, as their onl}^ value is that of 

 the pelt. In the case of horses which are kept away irom the loco 

 weed for a considerable length of time, the value of the animal is a 

 ver}^ uncertain quantity. Such horses ma}^ return to the habit of eat- 

 ing loco weeds at the first opportunity, and even if prevented for a 

 time they may develop vicious habits, as already stated. A small per- 

 centage of locoed horses apparently make a complete recovery and 

 develop into valuable and reliable animals. 



In the case of one large sheep raiser such extensive losses were 

 incurred from sheep eating the white loco weed that the ranch was 

 finally sold to a new comer who was without experience in the sheep 

 business. Sheep were imported from other parts of the State and 

 countr}^ to stock this ranch, and no case of locoed sheep has been 

 observed here for the past four years. The immunity which the new 

 owner enjoys from the losses caused by eating white loco weed is, as 

 alreadj^ indicated, not due to an}^ special precaution on his part nor to 

 an}'^ experience which he has had in managing sheep, nor has the plant 

 disappeared from the ranch. His sheep have simply not acquired the 

 habit of eating loco weeds. 



Since the loco disease is due to habit it is obviousl}" impossible to 

 apply any such treatment as would be given to a disease which has a 

 definite course or to a case of acute poisoning from death camas or other 

 plants. In the case of poisoning from death camas, water hemlock, or 

 larkspur the result of treatment depends upon the amount of poison 



