Certain grasses cause infertilty? Even death?

[secretwatersranch]

Hey I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if they have ever heard of this, and if they have could possibly tell me about it? The only 2 grasses that I have heard mentioned were sudan and johnson grass.



Thanks

 

[SF]

I've heard that too. I've had lots of cattle in pastures with Johnson Grass. Never experienced those problems, but maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[greenwillowherefords]

I've heard that too. I've had lots of cattle in pastures with Johnson Grass. Never experienced those problems, but maybe I'm just lucky.

As I understand it, it depends on the age and size of the Johnsongrass, as well as weather conditions. Just the other day, I heard of a rancher who turned over 100 head of cattle in on Johnsongrass, and autopsies proved that it was the cause of 50 deaths. The vet who tried to save them told this to a friend of mine.

 

[SF]

I've heard that too. I've had lots of cattle in pastures with Johnson Grass. Never experienced those problems, but maybe I'm just lucky.

As I understand it, it depends on the age and size of the Johnsongrass, as well as weather conditions. Just the other day, I heard of a rancher who turned over 100 head of cattle in on Johnsongrass, and autopsies proved that it was the cause of 50 deaths. The vet who tried to save them told this to a friend of mine.

That could make a grown man cry. Do you know what the age and size of it when it is toxic?

 

[secretwatersranch]

Yikes! losing 50 head could do alot of damage!


Well greenwillow or anyone if you can tell me the size and age it would be great!



Thanks

 

[MikeC]

Hey I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if they have ever heard of this, and if they have could possibly tell me about it? The only 2 grasses that I have heard mentioned were sudan and johnson grass.
Thanks

There are many grasses that can cause death by nitrate poisoning. Have even seen it in bermuda. Nitrate poisoning will kill even if it's cut for hay.

But are you specifically talking about Prussic Acid?

 

[greenwillowherefords]

I believe That the rain fall and temperature has a lot to do with it. I heard an oldtimer say it has a white substance on the grass during this period of time. I'm certainly not an expert on this. The cattle I was talking about are somewhere in the middle of Oklahoma. A friend of ours told me about it.

 

[BC]

Johnsongrass and other members of the sorghum and sudan family can get prussic acid. This compound is very similar to cyanide. These plants get this when they become stressed. It is a concern after a long dry period and then you get some rain and fast new growth AND the new regrowth following a frost that did not kill the plant. It will usually dissapate on its on after about 2 weeks.

Here is a link to more information on nitrate poisoning and prussic acid poisoning.

http://forages.tamu.edu/PDF/nitrate.pdf

Pray for rain for northeast Texas. This area usually is a garden spot, but is brown like West Texas.

 

[dun]

High endophyte fescue can cause fertility problems. Diluted with a legume and the problem either goes away or is so minor as to not be noticable.

dun

 

[secretwatersranch]

Thanks alot for all the feedback guys

 

[bigbull338]

as far as grass tetny . its johnson an sudan grass . the only time i know of the danger is when it rains. but if you catch the tetny in time you can save the cattle. i think only rain can activate the acid in it. scott

 

[dun]

as far as grass tetny . its johnson an sudan grass . the only time i know of the danger is when it rains. but if you catch the tetny in time you can save the cattle. i think only rain can activate the acid in it. scott

Grass tetany isn;t grass specific. Any rapidly growing grass with high milking animals will caue it. It's not just a spring thing either. Last year there were a number of deaths from it in hte fall because of the unusaully rapid growth.

dun

 

[J. T.]

The following information comes from my college notes dated April 10, 1984 in Dr. Johnson's Forage Production class at Auburn University. (War Eagle!): All the sorghums have the potential to produce prussic acid. However, in healthy plants the enzyme and glucocide never interact with each other. Only damaged or stressed plants produce prussic acid. Grain sorghums are the worst, Johnsongrass and sudan grass are the least likely to produce the toxin.
Conditions for producing prussic acid:
1. Must be a sorghum
2. Age factor-the younger the tissue the more dangerous. Eighteen inches of growth is usually safe.
3. Plant has to be under stress, i.e. frosted Johnsongrass, drought stressed sorghum.
Prussic acid is more prevalent in the north than in the south.
The more fertilizer, the higher the risk of prussic acid poisoning.
Regarding grass tetany....this is due to plants growing rapidly due to optimum growing conditions (temp and rainfall) This usually happens in the early spring. Grass tetany occurs due to plant composition being high in water and low in magnesium. Magnesium is necessary for animals to have normal muscular control. Providing minerals including magnesium usually prevents grass tetany.
The endophyte fungus found in Tall Fescue causes cows to have lower conception rates than cows under the same management practices on different forage species. The toxic endophyte also causes mares to abort, so there are some problems of fertility and reproductive performance on infected fescue.
J. T.

 

[MikeC]

War Eagle from Montgomery!