The effects of onion feeding on health were studied in goats. For this purpose, 12 clinically healthy female local-breed goats weighing 35-40 kg and 2-4 years old were randomly divided in 3 equal groups according to the onion amounts (0%, 30% and 60%) in diet for 60 days and clinical signs, haemato- logical and biochemical parameters were regularly evaluated at 10 days in- tervals for 80 days. Except one goat fed with 60% onion in diet which dead after respiratory distress and have exhibited hemosiderosis in liver, no relevant clinical signs were noted in goats fed with onions. Among haematological parameters, haematocrit and haemoglobinemia were significantly reduced according to the dietary onion supply, particularly on days 40 and 30 respec- tively and their variations were coupled to marked and significant increases in sideremia between the 30th and the 50th days in goats receiving 60% onion in diet. Additionally, serum phosphorus and urea concentrations were signi- ficantly enhanced in ruminants fed with 60% onion in diet. These results de- monstrate that goats were more resistant to the onion toxicity than other livestock species and apart a transient haemolysis which has disappeared after removal of onion exposure, spring onions can be safely incorporated into diet up to 30% without any negative impact.

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