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Nitrate‐nitrite toxicity in cattle and sheep grazing Dactyloctenium radulans (button grass) in stockyards

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McKenzie, R.A., Rayner, A.C., Thompson, G.K., Pidgeon, G.F. and Burren, B.R. (2004) Nitrate‐nitrite toxicity in cattle and sheep grazing Dactyloctenium radulans (button grass) in stockyards. Australian Veterinary Journal, 82 (10). pp. 630-634. ISSN 0005-0423

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Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2004.tb12612.x

Abstract

Hungry cattle and sheep introduced to stockyards containing a dominant or pure growth of Dactyloctenium radulans (button grass) suffered acute nitrate-nitrite toxicity in four incidents in inland Queensland between 1993 and 2001. Deaths ranged from 16 to 44%. Methaemoglobinaemia was noted at necropsies in all incidents. An aqueous humour sample from one dead steer contained 75 mg nitrate/L and from one dead sheep contained 100 mg nitrate and 50 mg nitrite/L (normal = ca 5 mg nitrate/L). Both lush and dry button grass were toxic. The nitrate content of button grass from within the stockyards ranged from 4.0 to 12.9% as potassium nitrate equivalent in dry matter and from outside the stockyards ranged from <0.2 to 0.4%. These data suggest that urine and faeces in stockyard soil may boost the nitrate content of button grass to a concentration hazardous to hungry ruminants.

Item Type:Article
Subjects:Plant pests and diseases > Poisonous plants
Animal culture > Cattle
Animal culture > Sheep
Veterinary medicine
Live Archive:31 Jan 2024 03:18
Last Modified:08 Feb 2024 02:08

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