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Klein Grass - Good or Bad
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<blockquote data-quote="edrsimms" data-source="post: 698689" data-attributes="member: 10970"><p>Kleingrass is a tufted perennial bunch grass with stems 20 to 50 inches tall arising from firm, often knotty bases. The plant gives rise to an open panicle type inflorescence with typical rounded Panicum type seeds. The species is a warm-season grass that can provide good grazing for livestock. The grass is not native to Texas and was introduced from Africa in the 1950's. After more than 10 years of research, Kleingrass 75 was released as the most desirable variety, through joint efforts of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the U.S. Soil Conservation Service (currently the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service).</p><p></p><p>During the last 45 years, hundreds of thousands of acres of the arid Rolling Plains and Edwards Plateau of Texas have been planted to a monoculture of kleingrass. The grass has been planted to a lesser extent in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas mixed with native rangeland species for revegetation. Since its introduction, the plant has spread into native rangelands and along highways.</p><p>Regions: 3, 4, 5, 7. </p><p></p><p>Toxic Agent</p><p>Kleingrass, if managed properly, provides abundant quantities of good quality forage for livestock. However, sheep, and goats have been known to develop severe photosensitization and liver damage. The latter can also occur in horses. Saponins are suspected (but not proven) to be the photodynamic agent responsible. Green grass growth following moisture or grazing is reported to be relatively more toxic than old or dormant growth.</p><p> Livestock Symptoms</p><p>Poisoned sheep and goats exhibit typical symptoms of hepatogenic photosensitivity, including: discharges from the eyes and nose </p><p>sunburn and edema of skin on the muzzle, eyes and nose progressing to necrosis </p><p></p><p>Postmortem examination may reveal liver inflamation and lesions. The small bile ducts may be obstructed. The kidneys and adrenal glands, may also show lesions. Researchers have reported toxic symptoms in sheep after several weeks of grazing, while in other cases, symptoms appeared after only a few days. Morbidity can reach 100% if affected animals are not removed from pastures. </p><p></p><p>Horses are also susceptible to kleingrass toxicity, but unlike sheep, they do not exhibit classical early photosensitivity symptoms. Therefore, it may be difficult to detect poisoning as early. Basically, horses receive liver damage but without outward signs of photosensitivity. Poor body condition and weight may be the only early symptoms (i.e. "hard keepers"). With long-term exposure, liver damage may lethal in horses.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Cattle have not been reported to be susceptible to kleingrass induced photosensitivity. Therefore, they are the species of choice for grazing kleingrass pastures. If other livestock species have access to kleingrass, caution should be used. Animals should be closely monitored, and time spent grazing kleingrass should be very limited, especially during periods of green grass growth. Rotational grazing to other grass species may help. If symptomatic animals are removed from kleingrass, most will recover from toxic effects.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="edrsimms, post: 698689, member: 10970"] Kleingrass is a tufted perennial bunch grass with stems 20 to 50 inches tall arising from firm, often knotty bases. The plant gives rise to an open panicle type inflorescence with typical rounded Panicum type seeds. The species is a warm-season grass that can provide good grazing for livestock. The grass is not native to Texas and was introduced from Africa in the 1950's. After more than 10 years of research, Kleingrass 75 was released as the most desirable variety, through joint efforts of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the U.S. Soil Conservation Service (currently the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service). During the last 45 years, hundreds of thousands of acres of the arid Rolling Plains and Edwards Plateau of Texas have been planted to a monoculture of kleingrass. The grass has been planted to a lesser extent in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas mixed with native rangeland species for revegetation. Since its introduction, the plant has spread into native rangelands and along highways. Regions: 3, 4, 5, 7. Toxic Agent Kleingrass, if managed properly, provides abundant quantities of good quality forage for livestock. However, sheep, and goats have been known to develop severe photosensitization and liver damage. The latter can also occur in horses. Saponins are suspected (but not proven) to be the photodynamic agent responsible. Green grass growth following moisture or grazing is reported to be relatively more toxic than old or dormant growth. Livestock Symptoms Poisoned sheep and goats exhibit typical symptoms of hepatogenic photosensitivity, including: discharges from the eyes and nose sunburn and edema of skin on the muzzle, eyes and nose progressing to necrosis Postmortem examination may reveal liver inflamation and lesions. The small bile ducts may be obstructed. The kidneys and adrenal glands, may also show lesions. Researchers have reported toxic symptoms in sheep after several weeks of grazing, while in other cases, symptoms appeared after only a few days. Morbidity can reach 100% if affected animals are not removed from pastures. Horses are also susceptible to kleingrass toxicity, but unlike sheep, they do not exhibit classical early photosensitivity symptoms. Therefore, it may be difficult to detect poisoning as early. Basically, horses receive liver damage but without outward signs of photosensitivity. Poor body condition and weight may be the only early symptoms (i.e. "hard keepers"). With long-term exposure, liver damage may lethal in horses. Cattle have not been reported to be susceptible to kleingrass induced photosensitivity. Therefore, they are the species of choice for grazing kleingrass pastures. If other livestock species have access to kleingrass, caution should be used. Animals should be closely monitored, and time spent grazing kleingrass should be very limited, especially during periods of green grass growth. Rotational grazing to other grass species may help. If symptomatic animals are removed from kleingrass, most will recover from toxic effects. [/QUOTE]
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