As the first frost hits much of the upper Midwest, cattle producers are being urged to watch for prussic acid poisoning in livestock.
According to Iowa State University Extension experts, forage grasses can develop dangerous levels of prussic acid after frost. When the frost stresses these plants, they produce a compound called dhurrin, which breaks down into prussic acid and can be toxic to livestock. Experts warned that consuming these forages can lead to symptoms such as muscle twitching, staggering, and even death within minutes.
Producers should remove cattle from affected fields when frost is expected and keep them off for at least seven days—restarting the waiting period if another frost occurs. Before returning livestock, producers should check for regrowth, as new shoots can also contain high levels of dhurrin. Prussic acid levels usually decline to safe levels about a week after a hard freeze of 28°F or lower lasting at least four hours.
Photo Credit: Iowa State University Extension.
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