Abstract: The research progress on the source, toxicology, harm to livestock and prevention and treatment methods of Swainsonine, which was the main toxic component of Oxytropis, was reviewed in this paper. The swainsonine mainly originated from the metabolism of Oxytropis endophyte, and its concentration was related with the nitrogen fixation of nodule, but not genetic characteristics. Swainsonine was transported to the tissue organ of livestock by blood and inhibited mannosidase activity when accumulated to a certain degree, which leads to the degeneration of cells in the form of cavitation. Then, the immune, health, mental behavior, digestion, absorption, growth, propagation and introduction of livestock were influenced. At present, the preventive methods were rotational grazing, isolation and anorexia, and the main treatment to this disease was to treat the livestock with medicine.