Water and weeds can kill livestock.
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Under dry conditions, toxic plants may attract livestock
http://www.agriculture.com/ag/story.jht ... ref=ag1001
Source: http://www.farmandranchguide.com/articl ... live04.txtWater quality from dugouts/ponds can affect livestock health
By DALE HILDEBRANT, For Minnesota Farm Guide
Thursday, July 5, 2007 3:45 PM CDT
As temperatures climb, livestock producers need to watch for a green to blue-green scum or gelatinous mass on the surface of their livestock's fresh water supply, according to Roxanne Johnson, the NDSU Extension Service's water quality associate.
"Algae blooms cause major disruptions not only because of their offensive odor and appearance; they can be potentially fatal to livestock," she said. "Not all algae blooms are toxic, but without laboratory analysis, it is impossible to identify poisonous species."
This seasonal growth is not really algae, Johnson noted, but a photosynthetic bacteria call cyanobacteria that rely on sunlight for energy. The numbers of this bacteria increase with warm weather, calm winds and abundant nutrients. A bloom of green or blue-green algae on the surface of the water may appear overnight, accompanied by an unmistakable musty, earthy or putrid odor.
"As cyanobacteria break down, they release toxins that can be an irritant to human skin and potentially lethal to animals," she said.
Toxicity is dependent on the species consuming the water and the concentration and the amount of water ingested. According to Johnson, the blue-green algae produce two toxins, each with different symptoms. Signs of neurotoxin poisoning usually appear within 15 to 20 minutes of ingestion.
In animals, symptoms include weakness, staggering, difficulty in breathing, convulsions and ultimately death.
Also see:
Under dry conditions, toxic plants may attract livestock
http://www.agriculture.com/ag/story.jht ... ref=ag1001