[Animal nutrition for veterinarians--recent cases: yew poisoning in goats with lethal results as a result of improper disposition of hedge clippings].

Mini goats (n = 40) were kept in a paddock. During October hay and supplementary mixed feed were given in a addition to grass; water was available ad libitum. About 3 hours after a last control (at about 2 p.m.) 8 animals were found dead and further 3 in a moribund condition; 2 of them died within 2 hours and the last one during the following night. Branches of yew were found in the paddock, obviously wastes of a neighbored garden. Therefore an intoxication by Taxus sp. was suspected. For a further clarification the rumen contents of two died goats were investigated. The rumen contained 1190 and 1710 g ingesta, which were interspersed by visible leaves of Taxus and their fragments. The identification was ensured by control under a magnifier; also some leaves in an arrangement typical for male Taxus were observed. Taxus leaves in the 2 rumens were counted and in consideration of the fragments 2190 and 230 leaves per kg rumen content were estimated. Assuming a mean weight for Taxus leaves in autumn of 18.4 mg/leave (+/- 3.9, n = 50, fresh cut leaves) a consumption of 2.4 and 0.4 g Taxus leaves/kg body weight is derived. An overview in literature is given and documents a high number of cases in horses and ruminants. Important by forensic point of view is the endangering of animals by mistakes in keeping conditions, as pasturing meadows with neighbouring yews, or the wrong handling of hedge cut as well as the evidence of Taxus leaves in the stomach to ensure diagnosis.