LIVESTOCK HEALTH PROBLEMS RELATED TO FORAGES

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LIVESTOCK HEALTH PROBLEMS RELATED TO FORAGES

• Floron C. Faries, Jr. DVM, MS
• Professor and Extension Program Leader
• for Veterinary Medicine
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas AM System
• http//extensionvetmed.tamu.edu

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MOLD POISONING

• Ergot Poisoning - Ergot Foot
• Fungus (Claviceps purpurea)
• Black, Elongated Mass
• Seed Heads
• Rye, Wheat, Oats, Ryegrass
• Late Summer
• Vasoconstriction (Extremities)
• Lameness
• Gangrene

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• Ergot Poisoning - Dallisgrass Staggers
• Fungus (Claviceps paspali)
• Creamy (yellow-gray), Round Mass
• Seed Heads
• Dallisgrass
• Late Summer
• Nervous Stimulation
• Excited
• Tremors
• Stagger

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• Fescue Poisoning
• Fungus (Acremonium)
• Tall Fescue
• Vasoconstriction (Extremities)
• Fescue Foot
• Lameness
• Gangrene
• Late Fall, Winter
• Decreased Heat
• Summer Fescue
• Poor Doers
• Summer
• Hard Fat (Abodomen)
• Chronic Fescue
• Long Time Consumption

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GRASS TETANY

• Low Blood Magnesium
• Adult Cows
• Nursing
• Lush Pastures
• Any Age
• Any Condition

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• Wheat
• Oats
• Ryegrass
• Bermuda
• Weather
• Cool-Cold
• Cloudy
• Wet

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• High K, N Predisposes
• Signs
• Tremble
• Stagger
• Run
• Convulsions
• Stiff
• Sensitive

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• Prevention
• Prevent Energy Loss
• Grain
• Hay
• Magnesium Mineral (6-8)
• 1-2 oz Mg/day
• 1-2 lb Mineral/day

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NITRATE POISONING

• Fresh or Dry Forage
• Johnson Grass
• Sudan
• Sorghum
• Sudan-Sorghum
• Wheat
• Oats
• Rye
• Ryegrass
• Bermuda
• Fescue

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• Weather
• Growth Cease/Nitrate Accumulates
• Cold
• Hot
• Cloudy
• Shade

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• Physical Damage
• Growth Cease/Nitrate Accumulates
• Heavily Grazed
• Stems
• Roots

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• gt1 Nitrate of Ration
• (gt100 PPM)
• Energy Feeds
• gt Conversion

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CYANIDE POISONINGPRUSSIC ACID POISONING

• Fresh Forage
• Johnson Grass
• Sudan
• Sorghum
• Sudan-Sorghum

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• Weather/Damage
• Frost Wilt Winter
• Hot Dry Summer
• 3 days
• New Growth
• 10 days
• Hay Fill