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prussic poisoning

J

JM in Merit

Member
Lost one to prussic poisoning tonight, first time I ever had a problem with it. I had some cows off a real small pasture for less than 3 weeks. Had hay in the area and was waiting to move it. Got it moved and let cows in and less than hour and half had one dead and 2 affected by it. Called Vet and he said not much to do but get them off pasture, which I already knew about getting them off pasture. Had very little Johnson grass in pasture, basically just a few stalks where I had feed hay last winter and it was only 4 to 6 inches tall. Did not see any red tint on Johnson grass.
Guess question is how long to keep cows off pasture till it be safe and if those 2 affected have gotten up and walked/staggered around for hour or so will they be alright. I heard about it all my life, but never had any problems. It had rained just a couple tents today, was wondering if that had any effect on it
Be careful, never even thought about it when I turned them out today, thought pasture had to be un grazed allot longer than 3 weeks.
 
from what i understand any stress on johnson grass or various other forage can cause the prussic poisoning.
i'd keep the cows up and walkin around...hopefully poison will pass thru them.
 
Like you, heard of it, but haven't had any problems - knock on wood.

Only thing I lost like that over the years was bull that got into some ground up corncobs (they were on pure green pasture att he time). Donno if he just packed his gut full, or if there was some sort of reaction. Was kinda supposed to be bedding, but was ground real fine, & a few seemed to eat on it.

Let us know how the rest turn out.

--->Paul
 
Wilted wild cherry leaves have prussic acid so does sorguhm and sudan.Ive heard the frosted sweet corn can produce prussic acid.
 

This is briefly what I found on Google

Prussic acid (HCN) causes acute poisoning in ruminants grazing sorghums, especially johnsongrass. Many of the same factors that tend to cause nitrate accumulation -- drought, reduced sunlight, excessive soil nitrogen, young plants -- also increase HCN potential. HCN potential is greater in leaves than stems. Proper curing for hay or ensiling greatly reduces the potential for HCN poisoning. Lush regrowth in sorghums after cutting for hay, grazing or frost is often dangerous.
 
Paul , like you I have never had a problem with it but did have a strange one . My cows got out in a bean field that was dry and ready for harvest . about 10 or so got sick , vet said they cant digest them . Had to catch and tube them . The bad part was they were in the woods and was nt going to the barn and ended up lassoing them and tieing them to a tree including a 2500 lb. bull . Now that was a fun day !!
 
Ive lost 2 over several years to prussic acid. First one got out and into a patch of drought stressed sudan. I lost another one 2 years ago the same way you did. I had a small field with some johnson grass that was stressed and kept em out of it. It rained and 10 days later I turned 40 out and lost one. She was dead within 15 - 20 min and not another cow sick at all. You have to watch for Prussic acid in new growth after a rain as well as stressed johnson grass. I always was told wait a week to 10 days. Now wait 2 weeks.
If they are kept on Johnson grass all the time then they develop some resistance to prussic acid.
 
I knew the wilted cherry leaves can cause bloating and kill cattle. I have ground up corn out of the garden a few stalks a day and fed to the cattle for years. Of course they are always eating it fresh ground and just what I give them not all they would eat free choice.
 
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