Page 11 - MWC 10-27-2022s

Feeding Frosted Forages By Dr. R. Mark Sulc, Professor & Extension Forage Specialist
The Midwest Cattleman · October 27, 2022 · P11

I am beginning to get ques- after a frost. should be care-
tions about toxicities that Prussic Acid Toxicity fully followed
can develop after forages because prussic
Several forage and weed
are frosted. There is poten- species contain compounds acid is a gas and
tial for some forage toxicities can dissipate
and other problems that can called cyanogenic glucosides during shipping
that are converted quickly
develop after a frost. Prussic leading to a false
acid poisoning and high ni- to prussic acid (i.e., hydro- sense of security
gen cyanide) in freeze-dam-
trates are the main concern when no prussic
with a few specific annu- aged plant tissues, or under acid is found in
drought conditions. Some
al forages and several weed the sample. Call
species, but there is also an labs provide prussic acid There is potential for some forage toxicities and other
testing of forages. Sampling
increased risk of bloat when continued on page 14 problems that can develop after a frost.
grazing legumes after a frost. and shipping guidelines
Nitrate accumulation
in frosted forages. Freez-
ing damage slows down me-
tabolism in all plants, and
this might result in nitrate
accumulation in plants that
are still growing, especially
grasses like oats and other
small grains, millet, and su-
dangrass. This build-up usu-
ally is not hazardous to graz-
ing animals, but greenchop
or hay cut right after a freeze
can be more dangerous. When
in doubt, send in a sample to
a forage testing lab and re-
quest a nitrate test before
grazing or feeding a forage

Callaway

Livestock

Center, Inc.

On I-70, 4 miles east of
Kingdom City, MO on outer road

573-642-7486

Feeder Sale

Monday
12:30 p.m.

1st Thursday Night
of Each Month

6:00 p.m.

Special Cow Sale

Jack Harrison
573-386-2138

John P. Harrison

573-386-5150