The cases of suspected poisoning of livestock by a range of organic chemicals, mainly pesticides, investigated at the Central Veterinary Laboratory during the period 1977 to 1980 are reviewed. The incidences of poisoning by various types of compound and the species most at risk are discussed. Organophosphorus pesticides and rodenticides were the commonest causes of poisoning. Pesticides accounted for one in 25 of all fatal poisonings listed by the veterinary investigation diagnosis analysis (VIDA) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

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Two separate incidents of poisoning, one involving the death of 10 cattle and the other four sheep following the use of sodium monochloroacetate, were investigated. The cattle drank from a farmyard drain overflow which undissolved herbicide entered. Sheep had access to spilt herbicide by a standpipe. Sodium monochloroacetate appears to be equally toxic to both sheep and cattle. The need to follow the manufacturers' instructions is emphasised.

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