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Johnson grass
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<blockquote data-quote="Rocket1121" data-source="post: 254447" data-attributes="member: 4375"><p>I have an 80 acre feild with approx 20 acres of Johnson Grass on it not to mention what's in the fence rows. I live 25 or so miles north of Oklahoma State University which has a large agricultural research department. </p><p> I contacted the local vet for advice on grazing cattle on stressed johnson grass and he said that locally there has been no cases of toxic problems. He would send a sample to the university for testing or I could take it myself and not have to wait a week for the results. I saw this as an oppurtunity to ask questions so I took it myself.</p><p> It was negative for prussic acid and nitrates. So I turned the cattle in on it with no problems for 3 weeks now. </p><p> They exsplained to me that prussic acid is stored in the leaves of the plant not the stem like nitrates. Nitrates are not really a big problem in johnson grass. Also prussic acid will disapate out of the plant when swathed because the sun will bleach it out as it drys. As it drys it is released as cyanide gas into the atmosphere. </p><p> They said that where most problems occur is if you was to cut and bale it and the new fresh growth that will occur during a drought stressed situation will have higher levels of prussic acid than mature stands or a lot of rain to cause quick growth and regrowth. </p><p> The white powder that appears on the leaves is suppose to be a natural sun reflection devise the plant will put on in the summer to protect it from the hotter than normal sun. I was alway told that when the stalks get a redish tint to them in later fall that's when the plant is most toxic but if your cattle are feeding on it for the summer they will build an immunity to the toxcicity. </p><p> If you cut it and feed it with the heads on it or graze it the cows eat it and spread it to where ever there is a cow pie on the ground. So it can be a problem to control. </p><p> If there is any question you can have it tested. Pick several samples of leaves from different areas and immediatly put them in doubled ziploc baggies. This stops it from what they said was gassing off.Then put in a brown papersack and put it in the icebox as soon as possible. Take it to your local vet and he should be able to send it in for testing. Hope I helped, because we all need every bit of grass we can get a hold of right now no matter what it is and in the future.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Rocket1121, post: 254447, member: 4375"] I have an 80 acre feild with approx 20 acres of Johnson Grass on it not to mention what's in the fence rows. I live 25 or so miles north of Oklahoma State University which has a large agricultural research department. I contacted the local vet for advice on grazing cattle on stressed johnson grass and he said that locally there has been no cases of toxic problems. He would send a sample to the university for testing or I could take it myself and not have to wait a week for the results. I saw this as an oppurtunity to ask questions so I took it myself. It was negative for prussic acid and nitrates. So I turned the cattle in on it with no problems for 3 weeks now. They exsplained to me that prussic acid is stored in the leaves of the plant not the stem like nitrates. Nitrates are not really a big problem in johnson grass. Also prussic acid will disapate out of the plant when swathed because the sun will bleach it out as it drys. As it drys it is released as cyanide gas into the atmosphere. They said that where most problems occur is if you was to cut and bale it and the new fresh growth that will occur during a drought stressed situation will have higher levels of prussic acid than mature stands or a lot of rain to cause quick growth and regrowth. The white powder that appears on the leaves is suppose to be a natural sun reflection devise the plant will put on in the summer to protect it from the hotter than normal sun. I was alway told that when the stalks get a redish tint to them in later fall that's when the plant is most toxic but if your cattle are feeding on it for the summer they will build an immunity to the toxcicity. If you cut it and feed it with the heads on it or graze it the cows eat it and spread it to where ever there is a cow pie on the ground. So it can be a problem to control. If there is any question you can have it tested. Pick several samples of leaves from different areas and immediatly put them in doubled ziploc baggies. This stops it from what they said was gassing off.Then put in a brown papersack and put it in the icebox as soon as possible. Take it to your local vet and he should be able to send it in for testing. Hope I helped, because we all need every bit of grass we can get a hold of right now no matter what it is and in the future. [/QUOTE]
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