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The Midwest Cattleman %u00b7 October 24, 2024 %u00b7 P9This year is presenting many challenges when it comes to forage toxicity and ensuring that we have safe feed for our livestock. Drought conditions have led to an active discussion on forage toxicity and the potential for frost in the future presents an additional concern. These environmental conditions increase the risk of prussic acid poisoning, nitrate poisoning, and increased bloat in multiple methods of feeding forages. Recent rainfall in some areas has finally allowed for rapid forage growth but unfortunately in some species, this rapid growth poses a risk to your livestock during future frost events.What is prussic acid toxicity?Prussic acid toxicity is the accumulation of prussic acid (i.e. hydrogen cyanide) in forage plant tissue. Prussic acid is the product of a reaction between two naturally occurring plant molecules, cyanogenic glycosides and degrading enzymes. Plant cell walls usually separate the two, but a frost event freezes the water in a plant cell, rupturing the cell wall and allowing the formation of prussic acid.What variables contribute to prussic acid toxicity?Forage SpeciesThe forage species that are the main concern when it comes to prussic acid toxicity are our warm-season grasses and the most common and their toxicity potential are:%u2022Grain sorghum: very high to high toxic potential%u2022Indiangrass: high toxic potential%u2022Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids and forage sorghums: high to intermediate toxic potential%u2022Sudangrass hybrids and varieties: intermediate toxic potential%u2022Piper sudangrass: low toxic potential%u2022Pearl millet and foxtail millet: low toxic potential, but be cautious of nitrate poisoning this yearPrussic acid toxicity is also found in plants such as johnsongrass, shattercane, and wild cherry, that are not planted as forage but may accidentally be consumed by livestock. It is good practice to identify these plants around your pasture to manage, be sure to always pick up and discard fallen limbs after a storm to prevent accidental consumption.FertilityThere is a higher chance of prussic acid toxicity in forages that have had a high rate of nitrogen fertilization or manure history and in soils that have high nitrogen to low phosphorus imbalance. Be sure to make fertilization decisions based on regular soil tests.Plant maturityThe concentrations of prussic acid are higher in young and rapidly growing stands of forages because they contain more cyanogenic glucosides. With rainfall events after a severe drought causing rapid growth, many plants have a lot of new plant growth of concern. After a non-killing frost, forages can produce this new growth from the base of the stand. Prussic acid poisoning symptomsSymptoms of prussic acid poisoning can manifest quickly. The prussic acid can quickly enter the bloodstream and inhibit the livestock%u2019s ability to utilize oxygen. Symptoms can include drooling, labored breathing, staggering, and convulsions. If you observe any of these symptoms, contact your local veterinarian.DROUGHT TO FROST: FEEDING SAFE FORAGESBy Jason Hartschuh, Extension Field Specialist, Ohio State University ExtensionROTATIONAL GRAZING SUPPLYFALL AND WINTER GRAZINGSEASON IS TOUGH BUT WITH THE RIGHT SUPPLIES AND PRICE,WE%u2019VE GOT YOU COVERED!powerflexfence.com888.251.393487 Cobble Stone Dr.,Seymour, MO 65746LEARN MORELIGHTWEIGHT AND PORTABLEHIGHLY DURABLE AND STRONGHIGH-CONDUCTIVITYcontinued on page 12