Recognizing symptoms of prussic acid, nitrates key to johnsongrass management
By Ryan McGeeney
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
July 13, 2018
Fast Facts:
- Prussic acid and nitrates affect cattle differently
- Division of Ag publications available for download to help identify each
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LITTLE ROCK — Forage management has always been the foundation of a successful livestock operations in Arkansas and elsewhere, and keeping a close eye on those forages in drought conditions is fundamental to that success.
Johnsongrass, a good quality forage found widely throughout Arkansas, offers its own challenges in such conditions, said John Jennings, Professor of Forage for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
“When it becomes stressed from drought, johnsongrass can produce prussic acid — also known as hydrocyanic acid — or can accumulate nitrate, both of which are very toxic to livestock,” Jennings said.
Other grasses, such as sorghum or sudan, including haygrazer, greengraze, Sudex and sudangrass, can also develop prussic acid and accumulate nitrate. Jennings said its important for growers to be able to identify the differences in these toxins, and how toxicity levels may be measured.
Prussic Acid
“It’s difficult to predict how much prussic acid toxin may be present in the forage,” Jennings said. “There are no reliable field or routine laboratory for measuring toxic levels of prussic acid in forage. Lab tests can confirm prussic acid poisoning for dead animals, but the amount of toxin that results in death hasn’t been established for any routine tests, and field testing is not available.”
What is known is this: Hydrocyanic acid (HCN), or prussic acid, is generally found in stressed johnsongrass or sorghum, and is formed by enzymatic action on compounds called cyanogenetic glucosides.
When these compounds are broken down in the rumen of cattle, the cyanide is absorbed and combines with the hemoglobin in the bloodstream. This prevents the red blood cells from releasing oxygen to the body tissues, and suffocation occurs. One diagnostic symptom of prussic acid poisoning is bright red blood since it is full of trapped oxygen. Prussic acid poisoning occurs rapidly with affected animals dying in the field.
“Johnsongrass — and any plants of the sorghum family — can develop prussic acid,” Jennings said. “Wilted leaves of wild cherry trees caused by storm damage, or trimming or cutting, also have high prussic acid potential.”
Wilted and drought stressed plants are most likely to develop prussic acid. During early drought stress, the grass may appear normal in the morning, but can wilt during afternoon heat, which increases toxic potential.
The amount of prussic acid is higher in young plants than in older ones, and the toxicity of leaves is higher than that of stems, Jennings said. Prussic acid poisoning potential is very high for johnsongrass forage that is shorter than 18 inches tall, wilted forage or for a new flush of growth soon after a rainfall or after hay cutting. Prussic acid concentration decreases as plants become taller and more mature.
“Many producers believe the white powdery substance commonly seen on johnsongrass stems in late summer is prussic acid residue, but it’s only common powdery mildew fungus and is not considered toxic to livestock,” Jennings said.
Prussic acid dissipates when the forage dries, so well-cured hay is considered safe, Jennings said. If johnsongrass patches are mowed before allowing animals to graze a pasture, make sure the cut johnsongrass is dried completely to allow the prussic acid to dissipate.
For more information on prussic acid, growers should consult the Division of Agriculture publication “FSA 3069 Prussic Acid” at https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-3069.pdf.
Nitrate
Laboratory and field tests can be conducted on fresh forage and hay for nitrate content. Nitrate concentration of 700 ppm (parts per million) or less of nitrate-nitrogen is considered safe. Field tests with a diphenylamine solution can be used to indicate presence of nitrate to help determine if lab testing is needed to confirm nitrate concentration.
Growers can consult “FSA 3024 – Nitrate Poisoning in Cattle” for information on toxicity levels at ttps://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-3024.pdf.
“Nitrates can accumulate to toxic levels in some plant species, especially during drought stress,” Jennings said. Plants known for accumulating nitrate include johnsongrass, sorghums (forage sorghum, sorghum-sudan, and sudangrass), pearl millet, corn, and pigweed.
“Drought, shade, and sometimes potassium deficiency can cause a reduction in the activity of a specific plant enzyme that functions in the conversion of nitrate to precursors of plant protein, which allows accumulation of nitrate,” he said.
Similar to prussic acid poisoning, nitrate poisoning causes internal suffocation of the animal. However, nitrate prevents the blood from picking up oxygen to carry to the tissues. A diagnostic symptom of nitrate poisoning is dark, chocolate-brown appearing blood, which is a result of lack of oxygen in the blood, Jennings said.
Other things growers should keep in mind include:
- High nitrates usually occur when forages have been heavily fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer, but can also occur after poultry litter application or in fields with a history of manure application.
- High nitrate levels are most likely in young immature plants and decline as the plants mature. In cases of very high nitrate content, levels may remain high even in mature plants.
- Nitrate levels are typically highest in the lower part of the plant stem/stalk.
- High nitrate levels do not dissipate when hay is cut and remain high even in dry hay.
- Nitrate levels may decrease by about 50% in silage/haylage during the fermentation process. Be reminded that this may not be enough to reduce very high nitrate forage to safe levels.
To learn more about forage management in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact: Ryan McGeeney
Communication Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
rmcgeeney@uada.edu