“Cattle that munch on locoweed begin to stagger and stumble and develop fevers, sores, and anorexia — a suite of symptoms known as the blind staggers. Yet they enjoy the high. In the surest sign that selenium actually makes them go mad, cattle grow addicted to locoweed despite its awful side effects and eat it to the exclusion of anything else. It's animal meth”
Locoweed is an addictive, neurotoxin plant that has harmful effects when consumed in large doses similar to meth. Plants accumulate inorganic selenium from the soil and convert it to the organic form. Selenium is a material that supports bodily function and development. Consuming the recommended amounts may provoke health benefits: reduces the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, the decline in cognitive abilities, and the progression of HIV to AIDS. People undergoing kidney dialysis and HIV are prescribed selenium supplements to help with deficiency. Selenoprotein, proteins containing selenium in form of the amino acid selenocysteine, added to HIV infected cells slowed the replication of HIV.
However, high levels of selenium leads to selenosis, chronic selenium toxicity, or locoism in cattle. Symptoms of selenium poisoning are nausea, diarrhea, metallic taste in mouth, garlicky breath odor, hair loss, deformed and brittle nails, fatigue, and nerve damage. Livestock that feed on plants that accumulate high levels of selenium, from soil rich in the element, will have alkali disease or blind staggers. A horse affected with the disease will experience a disturbance of appetite, depression, and weakness with difficulty in sleeping and swallowing. The animals will strangely wander in circles accompanied by attacks of dizziness. Unsteady staggering gaits and impaired vision make the animals seem blind.
Selenium is an essential element for health, however abuse leads to negative psychoactive results. The rush of euphoria and the need for nutrients keeps animals additive to the widespread drug. Locoweed is a mind-altering drug that is addictive for horses like cigarettes are for people. Horses desires its psychoactive effects.
