Take care of yourself and your animals during a heat wave
Well there is nothing like the Texas Heat beating down on you and your animals come summer time. I don’t have to tell you it is brutally hot out there! We should take care of ourselves first, yes, but don’t forget about your animals. They depend on you to think ahead and prevent them from getting heat stress. Let’s talk about us first. To stay cool wear a broad-brimmed hat and loose-fitting, breathable, light-colored clothing and complete more strenuous activities in the early morning hours while temperatures are cooler. Sunscreen is always a good addition to avoid sunburn and overexposure. But two of the most important precautions to take during extreme heat are staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcoholic and caffeinated drinks. Taking intermittent breaks to cool down inside or in a shady, breezy location is a great idea too. Think of breaks as not only letting your body cool down but also strategy time where you can plan your next efforts. I do a lot of this in my vegetable garden! If working outside with someone, keep an eye on each other, and it gives you someone to complain about the hot weather with. If working by yourself, please let someone know what you’re doing and where, so they can check on you now and then. I say this with authority as I experienced severe heat exhaustion when I was 40 years old. I spent 5 days in the hospital recovering from it! So take it serious, no matter how tough you think you are, your not tough as Texas Heat!
When it comes to our animals (chickens included) we should recognize and avoid heat stress in our livestock or pets. In hot weather, they should always have access to shade and water and cool water is best if available. Heat stress is more severe with high humidity so they can tolerate higher temperatures with lower humidity to a point. When moving or working livestock, check the forecast for the temperature and humidity of the times you will be gathering, working, or hauling them. The Temperature Humidity Index or THI is an excellent resource to ensure the livestock will not experience significant heat stress. The THI is determined using a formula that accounts for both ambient (in the shade) temperature (Fahrenheit) and humidity (%): So I want to reiterate that for gathering, working, or hauling you should check the forecast for temperature and humidity. If working or moving them, and they begin to experience any signs of severe heat stress—such as rapid breathing or open-mouth panting, foaming at the mouth—release them and call a veterinarian for assistance. Try to stay cool out there and contact us if you need more information.
Prussic Acid Answers
There are times of the year that producers need to be concerned about Prussic acid poisoning in cattle on pastures or in hay put up. Prussic acid can occur after stressful conditions such as frost, drought, extended periods of cloudiness or exposure to a herbicide that kills grasses. Any condition that causes stress to the grass has a potential of producing this poison that can kill your cattle. It’s not a common occurrence, but poisonous prussic acids can form in forages like Bermuda, Ryegrass, Alfalfa etc… but is most common in Sorghum’s and Sorghum Grasses like Johnsongrass and Sudan. So I thought I would explain a few things concerning Prussic Acid(PA) and hopefully answer any questions one might have on the subject. I’m sure no authority on the matter but I have dealt with this issue all of my life and want to share my experiences. The first question we need to answer is about grazing cattle in suspect pastures. If cattle are already grazing pastures with Johnson grass present, then the only time I would worry about PA is the first frost. Pull them out of the pasture immediately after a frost for about two weeks and let the PA dissipate, then resume grazing. If you are turning in on a suspect pasture for the first time with Johnsongrass present, turn in a couple of test cows to see if they have a reaction in an hour or two, if not turn in the rest of the herd. Another thing I always did is to fill the cattle up on hay before turn in, which normally always worked. If you are baling sorghum forages or pastures with Johnsongrass, allow hay to cure properly to remove the danger of prussic acid poisoning from hay containing these forages. Usually the PA dissipates in 48 hours or so, so give it 3-4 days to be safe. If you don’t it could still be in the hay you put up and serve out to your livestock.
Prussic Acid Poisoning
Plants can produce toxic levels of prussic acid, especially when stressed during cold temperatures and droughts. Cyanide-producing compounds in living plant cells are converted to prussic acid when cells are crushed or otherwise ruptured. The prussic acid potential of plants is affected by species and variety, weather, soil fertility and stage of plant growth. Prussic acid is one of the most potent toxins in nature. As ruminants like cows and goats consume plant materials containing cyanide-producing compounds, prussic acid is liberated in the rumen, absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to body tissues where it interferes with oxygen usage. When lethal amounts are consumed, animals can die without visible symptoms of poisoning, but bloating is a common symptom seen. Symptoms from smaller amounts ingested include labored breathing, irregular pulse, frothing at the mouth and staggering. If your are baling Sudan, Sorghums or pastures with Johnsongrass, allow hay to cure properly to remove the danger of prussic acid poisoning from hay containing these forages. If grazing, watch cattle closely if you have to leave them exposed to Sudans or Johnsongrass. Of course, you can’t save a dead animal, but those displaying symptoms prior to death can be treated. A proprietary sodium nitrite-sodium thiosulfate combination can be administered and repeated once if necessary. It must be injected intravenously and very slowly. The dosage and method are critical, so keep a veterinarian’s emergency phone number close by. Most animals that live two hours after onset of symptoms are likely to recover, it just depends on how big of dose they get of the Prussic Acid.
