RICHMOND —
With the start of fall comes the risk of cyanide poisoning in ruminants.
Cyanide, prussic acid, hydrogen cyanide or hydrocyanic acid poisoning are all terms describing the same condition.
A number of common plants, including sudangrass, johnsongrass, sorghums and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids contain cyanogenic glycosides in the outer cells of the plant.
Further inside the leaf tissue are the enzymes needed to convert these compounds to the cyanide poison.
When the plant undergoes a stressful event such as cutting, wilting, freezing, drought, crushing, trampling, chewing or chopping, the plant cells rupture which allows the cyanogenic compounds and the enzymes to combine and produce hydrogen cyanide gas.
Ruminants also have microflora in the rumen capable of converting the cyanogenic compounds in the plant into cyanide.
The toxic gas goes to the bloodstream and blocks a necessary step in the release of oxygen from red blood cells. The animal essentially dies from lack of oxygen.
Clinical signs of cyanide poisoning can occur within minutes to hours after consuming the toxic forage.
Usually, the affected animals are found dead but, if observed early, may show rapid, difficult breathing, frothing at the mouth, muscle tremors, staggering and then collapse. The mucous membranes (such as the gums) are bright pink and the blood can be a bright cherry red color.
It is important to recognize and avoid situations in which these forages pose a danger to livestock.
Cattle and other ruminants should only graze sorghum, sorghum hybrids or johnsongrass when the plants have reached at least 18-24 inches in height.
Do not graze plants with young tillers. Do not graze these plants during drought periods when growth is severely reduced or the plant is wilted or twisted and wait at least one week after rainfall to resume grazing.
Do not graze at night when frost is likely. Frost allows conversion to hydrogen cyanide within the plant. Do not graze for two weeks after a non-killing (greater than 28 degrees) frost.
It is best not to allow ruminants to graze after a light frost as this is an extremely dangerous time and it may be several weeks before the cyanide potential subsides. Do not graze after a killing frost until plant material is completely dry and brown.
If a high cyanide is suspected in forages, do not graze or feed as green chop.
If cut for hay, allow at least 72 hours or longer before baling so that the cyanide will dissipate. Allow thorough drying because toxicity can be retained in cool or moist weather. Delay feeding silage 6 to 8 weeks following ensiling.
(Source: Dr. Ray Smith, UK Plant and Soil Sciences Dept., Dr. Cindy Gaskill and Dr. Michelle Arnold, UK Vet Diagnostic Lab)
Lifestyles & Community
Related Photos
-
Brandon Sears
Beware of cyanide (prussic acid) poisoning
- Lifestyles & Community
-
-
BQA Training June 25
Madison County Extension Office, 230 Duncannon Lane, Richmond. This certification is required if you have received CAIP cost share funds for Cattle Handling Facilities or Genetic Improvement.
-
Muffins, and not the kind you wear on one’s head...
I spent a couple of weeks this past month in Texas. One of my best friends who lives in the Dallas area developed the best recipe to use bran in a muffin. I have found this to be a great breakfast meal epically if one is one the go and no time to stop and fix a meal. Just pop into the microwave oven to reheat
-
Local farmers markets abound in Madison County
We all know we should eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, but many of us don’t get the recommended servings. Fruits and vegetables are important to our diet because they provide necessary nutrients and are high in dietary fiber and low in calories, fat and cholesterol. They provide a variety of phytochemicals, antioxidants and nutrients that help you stay healthy in a variety of ways.
-
Tomato problems
Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in the United States, according to studies done at the University of Illinois. Despite being so popular, no vegetable or plant is problem-proof. Here are some problems that may occur.
-
Things are different today, especially movies and cars
I was just thinking the other day about how different things are today when compared to how things were when I was young.
-
Rose rosette disease symptoms appearing now
There have been several roses brought into the office in the past week exhibiting the same symptoms. These plants have excessive thorns and abnormal shoot development. Unfortunately, these roses are suffering from a disease called rose rosette.
-
It’s Yard Sale Season
Yard sale season has arrived! If you, like me, love yard sales, this weekend will be a great opportunity to shop the first US 25 yard sale. If you just hit the sales in Madison County it will probably keep you busy all morning.
-
Madison County Farm Tour to visit South Carolina, Georgia
The Madison County Farm Tour planning committee has been busy at work planning our upcoming trip. This year the group is headed to South Carolina and Georgia. The dates for the tour are Sept. 23-28.As usual we will be traveling in a bus from Bluegrass Tours and there is room for people.
-
Hobo stew is great for camp cooking
This is the time of year when folks like to go camping or cook outdoors. I like to try new food items either on the camping trail or out on my outdoor grill.
Here are some recipes I have tried that were really good. -
Running or walking: which is better?
Running and walking both have their pros and cons.
Recent research, published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that habitual runners gain less weight than habitual walkers, when the amount of energy they expend in their workouts is the same.
And another study, published in the same month in a different journal, showed that running is no better than walking for the prevention of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. - More Lifestyles & Community Headlines
-
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
NYC 911 Call Lasts for 8 Hours
Obama: US Has Helped Syrian Rebels
Afghan Forces Take Afghanistan Security Lead
Raw: 100K Protesters Flood Brazilian Streets
California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol
Transgender Candidate Running in NYC
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Fla. Teen Catches Ride With Whale Shark
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Investigators Probe Origin of Colo. Wildfire
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Family Tweets Say Kim Kardashian Gives Birth
