It's a sound that stops farmers and ranchers in their tracks -- thunder. Recently, desperately needed rain has followed in its wake in some drought-stricken areas of Texas.
But the rain has done little to alleviate the shortage of forages available to livestock. Some ranchers in the dryest areas are now purchasing after-harvest baled corn and sorghum to feed livestock.
Livestock experts caution that ranchers need to be aware that drought conditions can increase the levels of prussic acid and nitrates in these hays.
"Anytime we have drought stress in our crops, we increase the chances for nitrate accumulation and prussic acid accumulation," said Jason Cleere, a Texas AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist. "Ranchers need to be cautious when purchasing and feeding some of these types of hay, such as corn or sorghum. These are the non-traditional forages that ranchers are buying now because of these desperate times."
Cleere said this type of hay can be a valuable nutrient source during tough times, but must be used cautiously. High levels of prussic acid or nitrates in hays being fed to cattle can kill them.
Tests for prussic acid and nitrate levels are inexpensive. The Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in College Station charges $12 per sample for both tests. When submitting samples for prussic acid testing, the lab requests one hay probe sample that is sealed in a pint jar, along with a double-handful of fresh sorghum stalks with leaves.
Sample stalks being submitted for nitrate testing should be cut four inches above the ground with no roots or dirt in the sample. Six to 10 stalks should be gathered from different sections of a field. Detailed information on submitting samples and testing can be found at http://tvmdl.
tamu.edu.
Tony Provin, soil chemist in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University, said prussic acid is only in select forages such as sorghum. Prussic acid accumulates in the newer growth or leaf tips of a plant, while nitrate accumulation can occur in any plant.
Provin said prussic acid toxins can kill cattle more quickly than nitrate poisoning.
Prussic acid can be more manageable, however, because it slowly dissipates over time through the normal cutting and curing process.
"Get curing and dissipation done in the field," Provin recommended.
He noted that the tighter the bale, the longer it takes prussic acid to dissipate.
The problem with nitrates in any baled forage is that once it's present in a stalk, it's there.
"So, essentially, you need to try to dilute it down by mixing with other forages to get to safe levels. You almost have to grind and mix it," Cleere said.
Cleere recommended that ranchers consult their local Extension agent for more information.
Stephen Schoeneman has been busy across the Brazos Valley baling corn, milo, rice straw and soybeans for livestock feed.
"Everybody is desperate right now for anything," he said.
Schoeneman has his hay bales tested for prussic acid and nitrate levels. None of his have tested positive for either, he said.
"There's a lot of this product being cut and baled into hay. A lot of it has been OK, from the reports I'm getting. There are cases where they're getting high nitrate levels, so producers should be cautious," Cleere said. "Baled corn and baled sorghum are a valuable feedstuff during tough times like we're experiencing now with the drought. You just need to have them tested."
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