Cattle dying from nitrate poisoning

Farmers have been warned about the dangers of nitrate poisoning after three cows died in West Gippsland in recent days.

Grant Nielsen from West Gippsland Vet Care said current conditions were conducive to nitrate poisoning, with farmers needing to be aware of what causes the illness and how to identify symptoms of sick animals.

“You tend to see nitrate poising in cattle if they are hungry and going onto new pasture or capeweed that has been sprayed, which increases its palatability,” Dr Nielsen said.

“Farmers need to try and control the intake of new pastures or sprayed capeweed paddocks.

“They can strip graze to minimise the impact or get the grass and capeweed tested to see how high the nitrate levels are.”

With overcast conditions being a precursor to nitrate poisoning, Dr Nielsen said farmers should try to take the weather into account when planning grazing regimes.

“Try to avoid grazing in overcast conditions, which can be tricky,” he said.

“But try to make sure cattle are well fed, having concentrates in the diet so there is plenty of energy in the rumen, which is important.”

Dr Nielsen said animals that are urinating frequently and staggering may be suffering from nitrate poisoning and need immediate veterinary assistance.

“You can have sudden death within an hour of grazing, depending on how toxic it is,” he said.

According to the Dairy Australia website, nitrate is a normal component of plants and is usually converted in the rumen to nitrite which is, in turn, changed to ammonia.

If nitrate levels in plants are higher than usual and/or the conversion of nitrite in the rumen is too slow, nitrate concentrations in the rumen can build up to toxic levels.

Excess nitrate is absorbed into the bloodstream where it binds with haemoglobin and reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen.

Nitrate can build up in many plants including pasture species such as rye grass, fodder crops such as millet or brassica, or weeds such as capeweed.

For more information go to www.dairyaustralia.com.au and click on the Animal Management tab or contact your local vet.

Market report for 25th and 26th May 2016. Wednesday Fat Sale 404 head. Thursday Cow Sale 32 Bulls, 641 Cows.

This week the fat sale contained a larger percentage of lighter quality head, which in turn forced prices downward, pulling the yard average back 15 cents to 265 cents. More bullocks were yarded this week and quality in this area was firm, with the extra head receiving more attention from processors. Heifer weights were heavier on average although the easier demand and quality eased prices in the secondary pens. A larger contingent of restockers and feedlots saw steers sell to better demand and this lifted the average for this section. Some very light vealers and easier quality saw the vealer pens cop the biggest drop on average for several weeks. 34 bullocks topped at 302, up 7 and averaged 290.3, up 41. 60 heifers topped at 317.2, up 17 and averaged 228.8, back 6. 33 steers topped at 319.2, up 13 and averaged 283.1, up 34. 262 veal topped at 346.2, firm and averaged 269.5, back 22. On Thursday there were an extra 186 head penned, and with demand remaining strong, all categories lifted on the day. 32 bulls made to a top of 274.2, to average 9 cents up at 232.5. 641 cows topped out at 266.6 cents and averaged 14 cents better at 189.8, with the yard averaged 14 cents up at 192.4.

1 LimX 1 AngX 1 LimX 5 LimX 6 LimX 15 Ang

5 Ang 1 Lim 1 AngX

3 LimX 8 BldX

2 Ang 2 LimX 4 BldX 1 Ang 1 Lim

1 Ang D&J Newman, Westbury 4 Ang P&A Drew, Mt View 1 Ang T Murie, Ellinbank 1 Hfd Saxton and Waller, Yarragon 1 Hfd J&M Savige, Narracan 2 S/horn Chapman Produce, Trafalgar

1 Frn 1 Frn 1 Frn 2 Frn 1 Frn 1 Frn

1 B/B

2 Char 1 Frn

R&H Olsen, Poowong East J&J Beamish, Budgeree N&D Renshaw, Lillico B&S Garratt, Moe M Nottage, Buln Buln V&M Zappulla, Neerim Nth

J&L Hills, Buln East D&G Cummins, Nambrook M Sostak, Hearns Oak

P Webb, Nyora Grove and Allatt, Yarragon

J&J Hatswell, Neerim Sth B&S Garratt, Moe Grove and Allatt, Yarragon G Paul, Hill End D&G Cummins, Nambrook

C&J Gray, Nilma Nth R&R Peacock, Modella D Harris, Bona Vista Goode and Potter, Poowong IFES Company, Modella S&L Finger, Yannathan

R Foster, Glengarry

J&A Fahey, Thorpdale 785 274.2 R Taylor, Glengarry Nth 885 250.0

1. Landmark, 2. SEJ, 3.

Elders, 4. Scotts, 5. Gibbon.

355 385 440 440 415 388

556 575 585

502 514

428 510 444 490 535

580 505 580 430 590 773

790 720 640 723 575 545

595

346.2 333.6 333.2 332.0 329.2 315.9

302.0 288.0 288.0

319.2 305.0

317.2 310.0 302.2 276.2 290.0

263.6 255.6 255.6 248.0 243.6 242.0

220.0 219.2 215.0 210.0 210.0 203.2

285.0

1229 1284 1466 1460 1366 1226

1679 1656 1684

1602 1567

1357 1581 1341 1356 1551

1528 1290 1482 1006 1437 1869

1738 1578 1376 1517 1207 1107

1695

2152 2212