Reducing The Risk Of Prussic Acid Poisoning

 

Warm-season annuals are a widely-used, excellent way to provide forage for livestock in the summer months when cool-season perennials slow their growth – or during the “summer slump”. In most cases, more than one grazing or harvest can be obtained from these warm-season annuals if nitrogen fertilizer is applied harvest or grazing to stimulate regrowth, allowing the forage to grow well into the cooler days of fall.

 

A cyanogenic compound is normally found in sorghum species in a bound, non-toxic form called dhurrin; however, after a killing frost or another source of damage to the plant, a compound also present in these forages called emulsion reacts with the dhurrin and “frees” it, causing a highly toxic, extremely poisonous cyanogenic compound within the plant. A concentration of a mere 0.1 percent or greater of dry tissue is considered dangerous and could kill livestock.

 

All species of sorghum contain prussic acid within the vegetative portion of the plant. Sorghum, johnsongrass, and shattercane contain the greatest levels of prussic acid. Sudangrass contains approximately 40 percent less prussic acid than other sorghums; however, a sorghum x sudangrass hybrid contains a greater level of the toxic compound than sudangrass alone. Improvements in genetic development of forages now allow options for planting varieties of sorghums that contain lower levels of prussic acid, helping to reduce the risk of prussic acid poisoning in livestock.

 

Another option for incorporating a summer annual pasture or hay crop while reducing the risk of prussic acid poisoning is the use of pearl millet, which does not contain toxic levels of prussic acid, even after a killing frost.

 

Generally, the greatest levels of prussic acid can be found in the leafier areas of the plant. After a killing frost, toxic prussic acid does not begin to decline until the leaves begin to wilt. To be safe, wait at least 7-10 days after a killing frost to pasture or green chop forage. If forages regrow after a killing frost, do not graze or feed until the regrowth has reached a minimum of 2 feet in height, as the regrowth will likely contain high, very toxic levels of prussic acid.

 

Heavy rates of fertilization and drought can also cause high levels of prussic acid accumulation in these forages even months before a killing frost; therefore, precaution should be taken during these conditions as well. Ensiling these forages helps to reduce the risk of toxic levels of prussic acid, as some of the toxic components escape during the fermentation process as gas. Sorghum silage should not be fed any earlier than 3-4 weeks after harvest as a precaution.