Nitrate Toxicity

 

 

 

This year’s weather patterns provide drought concerns throughout the region in South Dakota. As such, it is more than appropriate for producers to think about the risk of nitrates in feed supplies and how it will affect their livestock operations. It is well known that certain plants are nitrate accumulators and can contain toxic levels of nitrate when consumed by cattle and sheep; some examples are:

 

Nitrates reduce animal performance, and if concentrated enough will lead to death of some animals. Performing a Nitrate Quick Test will help producers to determine whether or not they might have problems with nitrates. If a test indicates they are in risk it may be prudent to further proceed with laboratory analysis. The Quick Test can be accomplished to establish the levels of nitrates present, or not present, in the plant.

 

Proper sampling is critical to have the best accuracy results. It is important to know that where livestock are allowed access to forage for a limited amount of time, testing the upper portions of the plant is recommended. If livestock is in a rotational system, sampling should focus more on the lower third of the forage where higher concentrations would be expected.