Tis the Season: Nitrate Toxicity & Prussic Acid Poisoning

Tis the Season: Nitrate Toxicity & Prussic Acid Poisoning

With the severe drought in southeast Kansas this year, there are certain forage diseases farmers and ranchers need to keep in mind that could be deadly to our cattle. Two such diseases are nitrate toxicity and prussic acid poisoning. Deadly levels of nitrates and prussic acid can accumulate in forages such as corn, sorghum, canola, cereal grains, sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass crosses, and other related species. It is important for producers to understand the signs and symptoms of these two deathly diseases and what can be done to prevent them.