Parsons, Kansas —
It has been known for years that johnsongrass has the potential to be a livestock killer because of two lethal issues: prussic acid poisoning and nitrate accumulation.
And even though the amount of johnsongrass has been increasing in pastures and along roadsides for a number of years there was minimal concern because veterinarians had not seen a case of prussic acid poisoning in years.
“Even though there has been an abundance of johnsongrass in past years too, cattle seemed to graze it with minimal problems,” said Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
Apparently the summer of 2012 and the accompanying drought has changed that situation with johnsongrass According to Cole, there have been a number of deaths due to grazing johnsongrass reported in southwest Missouri in the last six to eight weeks. In most cases the diagnosis was by circumstantial evidence.
“Most of the reports were simply finding dead cows or yearlings near a patch of johnsongrass after they’d been turned into a field with short johnsongrass in it. As a rule, only a small percentage of the animals in the herd will die,” said Cole.
In a couple of incidents the farmer was hauling a bale of hay into a pasture and a couple of hungry cows beat him through the gate and started eating lush, 12 inch tall johnsongrass along the road.
“The first farmer was fortunate, after the cows went down he contacted a veterinarian and was able to treat and save both cows,” said Cole.
In the other situation the farmer went ahead and unloaded the bale and went back to get the cows back in the pasture. By that time they were shaking and struggling. One died, but the other survived without treatment according to Cole.
The weather stress this year likely contributed to an abnormally high accumulation of prussic acid in the tissue of johnsongrass, grain sorghum, sorghum-sudangrass crosses, forage sorghums and shattercane. Sudan and pearl millet generally have a very low prussic acid potential.
‘The conditions that may enhance the poisoning risk is if the lush plant is damaged by freezing, chewing or traffic running over it. This frees a larger amount of the cyanide which is more lethal,” said Cole.
Symptoms of prussic acid poisoning occur quickly, often within 15 minutes. Farmers who are turning cattle that have not been recently on johnsongrass into a field with lots of johnsongrass in it are advised to only turn a few head in at first.
“It’s also a good idea to check with a veterinarian regarding actions in case cows do have a reaction. Make sure the cattle are full and wait until the johnsongrass is at least 24 inches tall before turning them in,” said Cole.
Cows affected by cyanide will have bright, cherry red blood. It may clot slowly or not at all. Cows tend to bloat quickly.
For more information on grazing high-risk prussic acid plants your veterinarian or one of the MU Extension livestock specialists in southwest Missouri: Eldon Cole in Mt. Vernon, (417) 466-3102, Andy McCorkill in Dallas County at(417) 345-7551 or Dona Goede in Cedar County, (417) 276-3313.£
Livestock
Johnsongrass troubles increase due to weather
- Livestock
-
-
Early summer deworming affects summer weight gain
A five year deworming trial was conducted at the Eastern Oklahoma Research Station located at Haskell, Oklahoma. In this trial crossbred cows and their calves were randomly allotted to four treatments: 1) non-dewormed control, 2) deworm calf only; 3) deworm cow only; and 4) deworm cow and calf.
-
Okla., ‘Gold’ cattle programs on schedule
Drought conditions gave way to significant rainfall over much of Oklahoma and surrounding regions this spring, leading some producers to wonder whether or not they need to alter their Oklahoma Gold and SuperGold cattle feeding programs.
-
Extension specialist offers mineral shopping advice
Mineral supplementation of beef cows and stockers creates many questions that are sometimes difficult to answer according to Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
-
First MU Extension 'Dairy Field Day' set for June 20
The first University of Missouri Extension “Dairy Field Day is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 20 at the University of Missouri Southwest Research Center located on Highway H, south of I-44 from the Mount Vernon west exit.
-
Effects of pork merger unknown
The full impact on the U.S. pork industry of a merger between Smithfield Foods — the world's largest pork producer — and Chinese firm Shuanghui are not yet known, Purdue Extension agricultural economist Chris Hurt says.
-
Mixed market signals affecting cattle markets
It has been difficult this spring to get cattle and beef markets all operating on the same page. Choice boxed beef, which capped wholesale values below $200/cwt. for more than a year, finally punched through the ceiling on May 2 and posted a strong May run culminating in record highs of $211.37/cwt. on Thursday prior to Memorial Day.
-
Producers should be aware of cattle heat stress
Old Man Winter held on longer than usual this year, but now summertime temperatures are taking hold, providing ample reason for cattle producers to guard against heat stress in their herds.
-
Early summer deworming of nursing calves
Five deworming trials were conducted at the Eastern Research Station located near Haskell, Okla., during the 1990’s. Crossbred cows and their Charolais sired calves were sorted by sex of calf, calf age and cow age, then randomly allotted to one of four treatments.
-
Raising backyard chickens requires basic knowledge
Interest in keeping chickens in the backyard as a source of eggs and meat is on the rise among both urban and suburban dwellers according to Jess Lyons, a small flock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
-
Cow slaughter continues above last year
Total beef production for the year to date is down 1.3 percent and total slaughter is down 2.1 percent compared to the same period last year. Both beef production and slaughter have been larger in recent weeks and the year to date total is down less than expected. A significant part of larger than expected total slaughter is the result of increased cow slaughter.
- More Livestock Headlines
-
