I've been putting in too many hours to really get the whole story,but my brother had a pretty significant death loss to some johnson grass hay. Hay was rolled back in August. Wasn't nitrates, and I thought prusic acid wasn't an issue after that long. Now, I'm worried. What else is in johnson grass, that will kill a cow?
Death loss to Johnson Grass
- Thread starter Bigfoot
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When did they ingest the hay in question?
callmefence
Keyboard cowboy
How do you know it was the hay?
callmefence
Keyboard cowboy
And how do you know it wasn't nitrates?
OP
OP
Bigfoot
Well-known member
This week, died this week.
OP
OP
Bigfoot
Well-known member
Hay was tested. It's like $5 and the state comes to your place.
kentuckyguy
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So did the hay come back high in Prussic Acid?
OP
OP
Bigfoot
Well-known member
I "thought" it disapated in a hay bale or roll. To my knowledge it wasn't tested for that. Might have been, but I've never seen it on a test.
chaded
Well-known member
Sounds like we don't know for sure what killed them?
OP
OP
Bigfoot
Well-known member
Vet advised to burn the remaining hay, and torch the ground the hay was fed on.
chaded
Well-known member
Did the vet say what he thought it was about the johnsongrass that killed them? Also, was the hay 100% johnsongrass?
OP
OP
Bigfoot
Well-known member
I'm sure he gave some indication, but what little I've shared is what I know. It was 50%, maybe more. Hopefully I'll see him this weekend. I just knew somebody would be like oh yeah, there's a 3rd thing to watch for, I thought everybody knew. Nitrates and prusic acid are the only 2 things I'm personally ware of.
chaded
Well-known member
I'm curious as well because we feed hay with johnsongrass in it all the time and haven't had any issues.
I've never heard of cut and put up Johnson Grass being a problem. Drought stressed or frosted on, yes, otherwise no.
SmokinM
Well-known member
Would love to know the answer. Prussic shouldnt have been an issue. Was there any gypsum weed in the hay or in the field? I know it is often mixed in the Johnson grass here depending on the field. Not sure of how toxic it is in hay but it will sure kill one in a field. Only other thing i could think would be a weird mold and bad luck. Please keep us posted.
greybeard
Well-known member
acorns in the vicinity?
(They usually cause a really poopy rear end tho)
(They usually cause a really poopy rear end tho)
I Roundup the hell out of any sprig of Johnson Grass I see in my hayfields.
OP
OP
Bigfoot
Well-known member
Every roll of hay I put up has some in it.
CalumetFarms
Well-known member
I wonder if it was "dry" hay or wrapped baleage. I know I can never get Johnson grass dried good just like sudangrass. Maybe a good bit of mold?
OP
OP
Bigfoot
Well-known member
Dry hay. Could have been molded
