question has been: what caused the deaths. At the same time, dry and hot


September Cattle Deaths Often A Mystery D


MT. VERNON, MO.


uring September there were a number of cattle deaths around southwest Missouri. The puzzling


weather depleted much of the forage the cattle would normally have been grazing. About the only green material left was johnsongrass, according to Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “Since Johnsongrass was about the


only green in fields this summer, it has received much of the blame for the cat- tle deaths, whether it was the actual cause or not,” said Cole. Johnsongrass is considered a


weed by most and is on the Mis- souri noxious weed list. It is de- spised by row crop farmers. However, cattle graziers respect it and some feel it is an asset to their summer grazing program according to Cole. Unfortunately, the controver-


difficult to prove,” said Cole. Other abnormal conditions that in-


crease the risk of grazing johnsongrass is frost, herbicide injury and new


Since Johnsongrass was about the only green in fields this summer, it has received much of the blame for the cattle deaths, whether it was the actual cause or not.


sial grass does have the ability to produce cyanogenic glucosides – most often called prussic acid. ‘There are a number of


plants capable of accumu- lating prussic acid which can kill livestock. Many of those plants are in the sorghum category,” said Cole. Under normal condi-


tions, these prussic acid producers contain low lev- els of the toxin. “The dry, hot summer


was not normal and could have resulted in an above average production of prussic acid which may have contributed to the cattle deaths, although it’s


growth that occurs after hay harvest. Prussic acid tends to leave the plant after it is cut for hay and that hay is considered safe. During normal years, those who graze


johnsongrass may have the cattle on the pasture early in the spring before johnsongrass starts to grow. The cattle seem to become adjusted to it as the plants grow but never get to a high tox- icity level. “The greatest risk, and what may


have been a factor in some deaths this year, is when lush johnsongrass stand- ing less than 20 to 24 inches tall is grazed by cattle that are naive to it,” said Cole. Field testing of forages for prussic


acid is not a common practice. The usual “test” is to turn one or two lower value cattle on the suspect john-


songrass pasture and watch them closely for 30 to 45 minutes. If the cat- tle graze the johnsongrass, as they typ- ically will do, any problems should show up in that time. “If the monitor animals act okay


and do not show respiratory prob- lems and go down and struggle, provide good hay to the rest of the herd and turn them into the pas- ture. Watch them closely for a while after turn-in,” said Cole. Cole also notes that is important to remember that there are other


factors that could be causing the high number of deaths this year such as ni- trates, hot weather and anaplasmosis. ∆


But My Bull Doesn’t Cost Me Much....?


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synchronization and AI is easier to calculate. Cost per pregnancy is influenced by cost of the estrus synchronization drugs (usually $10-20 per cow), the cost of labor ($5-$15 per cow), and the cost of semen (highly variable). The main factor that influ- ences the cost per preg- nancy of AI is conception rate. As conception rate to AI increases, the cost of pregnancy of the system decreases. A common es- trus synchronization sys- tem that is used in cows is the 7-day CIDR + TAI. The standard out-of- pocket cost for this sys- tem is about $45 per cow (semen/service ($20), synchronization drugs


($20), and labor ($5) per cow). If 60 percent of the cows conceive to the AI, then the cost per preg- nancy is $75 which is similar to the cost of using a $3,000 bull. So, the cost of using es-


trus synchronization and AI is similar to using a quality bull. Certainly, the cost of registered bulls has gone up re- cently which makes con- sidering


estrus


synchronization and AI practical. The key is can estrus


synchronization


and AI increase produc- tivity and profitability? Can it increase the value of your calves? We will address these issues in the next months.


couple of ∆


DR. LES ANDERSON:


Beef Extension Specialist, University of Kentucky


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