Wheatbelt livestock owners urged to monitor animals for signs of lupinosis following recent rainfall

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is urging Wheatbelt livestock owners to monitor animals grazing lupin crops for signs of lupinosis following recent rainfall. The warning follows reports of Diaporthe toxica, the fungus responsible for causing lupinosis, from the Mid West which could be present in other regions. Lupinosis is a potentially fatal liver disease that affects livestock, particularly sheep, which consume infected lupin stubble or seed, including standing green or senescing crops and baled lupin straw. DPIRD field veterinary officer Anna Erickson advised producers across the Wheatbelt to closely inspect sheep flocks grazing on lupins for signs of the disease and to take prompt action. “Early signs of lupinosis can be subtle and include reduced appetite and loss of condition, disorientation and lethargy when driven, and individuals not keeping up with the mob or staying near water points,” Dr Erickson said.