Sulfur-induced polioencephalomalacia in stocker calves.

Calves from 3 farms exhibited blindness, head pressing, and circling before death. Brain lesions confirmed polioencephalomalacia. Excess sulfur was found in the diets on all 3 farms in corn by-products or molasses based supplements. Corn gluten feed and corn steep liquor (by-products of the refinement of corn for ethanol), corn syrup, corn gluten, corn oil, and corn starch have gained popularity as livestock feeds due to their low prices. With this increased usage as livestock feed, increasing number of cases of polioencephalomalacia have been seen.