Hay

[Anonymous]

I was reading through some past questions and answers about dead cows, high nitrates in forage, and hay testing, and I have a few questions.

- Is Sudan hay the most likely to have the high nitrate content which can cause livestock poisoning? I mainly feed coastal, but have thought about buying some Sudan because it was cheaper.

- Is the high nitrate content strictly caused by over fertilizing and drought conditions, or do other factors play a role? When is the worst time to purchase Sudan (1st, 2nd cutting etc)?

- Where is the best place to get hay tested? I am currently buying all my hay from outside sources, some I know, and some I do not.

 

[Anonymous]

Other forages can cause it, but sudan is the most common, primarily because it is the most common.

Your local feed store or University extension service can get your hay sampled.

Frost will also cause problems

dun

> I was reading through some past
> questions and answers about dead
> cows, high nitrates in forage, and
> hay testing, and I have a few
> questions.

> - Is Sudan hay the most likely to
> have the high nitrate content
> which can cause livestock
> poisoning? I mainly feed coastal,
> but have thought about buying some
> Sudan because it was cheaper.

> - Is the high nitrate content
> strictly caused by over
> fertilizing and drought
> conditions, or do other factors
> play a role? When is the worst
> time to purchase Sudan (1st, 2nd
> cutting etc)?

> - Where is the best place to get
> hay tested? I am currently buying
> all my hay from outside sources,
> some I know, and some I do not.

 

[Anonymous]

Sudan can have prussic acid with is converted to nitrites (or nitrates, can't remember wchich). Wheat hay can have the nitrites (or nitrates, see above).

dun

> Other forages can cause it, but
> sudan is the most common,
> primarily because it is the most
> common.

> Your local feed store or
> University extension service can
> get your hay sampled.

> Frost will also cause problems

> dun