Service berry (Amelanchier alnifolia) is a deciduous shrub or small tree that produces small, white, fragrant flowers and round purple-black edible fruit. The plant can be found from Alaska across most of western Canada and in the western and north-central United States.
A. alnifolia has the potential to cause cyanide poisoning in cattle. The plant foliage is hazardous during bloom. The woody parts contain the highest amounts of the toxin.
Cattle who were purposely fed a ration containing 75% chopped twigs from the A. alnifolia shrub developed restlessness, shivering, loss of weight, scours and shortness of breath. When potential doses were increased to 5 mg hydrogen cyanide/kg (body weight) progressive stages of poisoning developed rapidly, rumen hydrogen cyanide levels were elevated for at least three hours and the increase in heart rate correlated with the rise in blood hydrogen cyanide concentration.
- Restlessness
- Shivering
- Loss Of Weight
- Scours
- Shortness Of Breath
- Death
