Breaking News! 40 dead cows!! Have questions

azhorselover · 08-20-2008, 08:50 PM

This is in the online version of our local paper tonite!

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?Sec...icleID=5837 6

I am close to where this happened and have to be right there tomorrow morning also. Can a plant toxicity really kill 40 cows that quick! I am a little worried what happened. These cows are close to town. Any ideas anyone?

Chic · 08-20-2008, 09:01 PM

Well, whatever caused it, 40 is a huge number for a plant to be suddenly growing naturally but not affect 160 of them. Hard to say... if it is a plant that is growing I hope they find out what it is before more eat it.

azhorselover · 08-20-2008, 09:04 PM

Thats what I thought would be odd (plant toxicity) and for them to die about the same time?? They said something about a bird dropping something? Do they mean botulism? and again to affect that many at once has me a little freaked out for my horses.

Karen Cole · 08-21-2008, 11:49 AM

Yep, it can happen if the 60 that died were grazing in about the same space and that area happened to be where the toxic plant was growing it's possible. Also, could be possible that there is a burried car battery in the area that those few cattle licked although I think the death from that is slower. There was a farmer near us that lost alot of his herd that way and it took the vets some time to figure out what was wronge.

Karen

horselady · 08-21-2008, 01:45 PM

How awful. Did one of the posts say that 70 horses were dead also? from the toxic plants.

David · 08-21-2008, 02:02 PM

Isn't Arizona pretty much a free range state? So couldn't this 40 have gotten into a canyon ,that the others weren't in, and gotten into something that killed them. I mean as big an area as those cows run on I'm sure that there are areas they only graze every couple of months. Just a hopefull thought...

Gotta Love Duns · 08-21-2008, 02:08 PM

Wow that is a large loss for the rancher. I hope they find the source.

BarnBum · 08-21-2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gotta Love Duns

Wow that is a large loss for the rancher. I hope they find the source.

No doubt. Big $$ loss.

Horse poor · 08-21-2008, 04:02 PM

If there was oats that were starting to grow again after being cut that could cause that affect. They mention new growth from recent rains. You are not supposed to feed grains that were cut before they are in milk. They say they don't know the cause yet, but we had an incident like this where I used to live. The cattle got into a field of young grain and killed a bunch of then. It causes nitrate(sp) poisoning in both cattle and horses.

How horrible for that rancher to lose that many all at once.

Sunlei · 08-21-2008, 06:03 PM

The article mentions nitrates from the local people. I read about a die-off of a herd of mustangs about 70 horses. The BLM had a lab do testing of the water as all the horses died around the water-pool.

The results are published somewhere, I'll look for it. I think it was nitrate poisoning, due to rain run off into the pool. Then there was a long dry period and the water got very low and concentrated the nitrates. Even though it had rained before the lab got the water samples, they said the nitrate levels were still lethal.

In those areas it may pay to not count on rainfall run-off to replenish ponds/tanks and use well water or something like that for livestock.

Sunlei · 08-21-2008, 06:57 PM

here we go I found it-
report of runoff of deicer (anti-freeze) killing 80ish and then more recent 71 horses.- klas tv las vegas reports

http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7418293

and the test results from the Desert research In.. It took several months to get the water tested but they finally had to do it. Test results, nitrates.

This info and test results- was requested to be released under the Freedom of Information Act.

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medial...008 _dn-2.pdf

"08/15/07 Final report.
The pond muck (Sample 6 and 8) had very high nitrate and nitrite levels
which could contribute to nitrate/nitrite toxicity. The dirt at the pond
interface samples (Samples 4) contained 498 ppm nitrate and no nitrites. It
is felt that these levels of nitrate and nitrite are toxic and may have
contributed significantly to the death of the horses. From the samples
submitted, I cannot determine the source of nitrates. It is possible that
environmental conditions were just right to cause natural nitrogen fixing
bacteria to multiply and elevate the levels of nitrates and nitrites in the
water. It is possible that the poor water conditions and markedly depleted
water hole may have had a high organic matter overload resulting in the
production of nitrates and nitrites. I cannot also preclude nitrogen sources
that could be manmade or natural. Further on the ground investigation for
these sources will have to be performed to exclude these as possible sources
of the nitrates and nitrites in the water. If a source is identified, please
let me know since nitrate toxicity cases in horses are rare. If you wish
more testing on some of the other samples please contact us as soon as
possible.""

peacecountrycowboy · 08-21-2008, 08:52 PM

It's really hard to say what it is from what they say there. Like it's said in the article, it could be a whole wack of things. But nitrate poising is very dangerous and can happen about that fast. Usually that is the first thing they will look at. It is extreamly rare for this time of the year. We start to be careful about it around the time it begins to freeze. Grazing frost damaged green grain crops can cause nitrate poisioning. Even if baled. That's why if there's been frost before it's cut, they need to be tested for levels of nitrate. There's many ways though that the nitrates can reach dangerous levels. Like the bit about the water.

peacecountrycowboy · 08-21-2008, 09:03 PM

Here's a good article on understanding nitrate poisoning,

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$departm...f/all/agdex851

ToveroMom · 08-22-2008, 07:15 AM

Let us not confuse an already confusing issue with the dead cattle. Water with heavy nitrates in the desert are most often from natural and not man made sources.
I was just out that way and they are having a very green and unusual spell of weather and friends are suspecting the runoffs for this-barring any additional news. Nitrates are not anti freeze..exclusively-by any means.

Sunlei · 08-22-2008, 12:08 PM

Actually the rain can run off, fertilizers, manure anything on the ground, pool-up, the bacteria changes it to a toxic brew- and then animals drink it. The anti-freeze herd kill was because a airplane runway was next to the waterhole, planes were de-iced with anti-freeze and it ran off into the water.

There are not to many lab reports in such detail about large herd kills by nitrates, except that one. That is why I posted that.

Any other ground spilll could be what killed those cattle aswell. But wasn't the cattle pasture a pasture used for crops too? The majority of the herd was not effected. It's pretty strange and will be interesting to see their test results.

They have this report up too. Pigweed?

"Thursday, August 21, 2008

Pigweed may be the cause of death for over 40 cattle on a section of ranch area along Road 5 North in Chino Valley early Wednesday morning.

"We received the results of a nitrate dipstick test of the cattle's ocular fluid," said Laura Oxley, public information officer for the Arizona Department of Agriculture. "It was an elevated nitrate level of more than 100. The normal range is 25."

When cattle eat higher than normal amounts of nitrate, it accumulates in an area of the stomach called the rumen, according to the website www.uwex.edu. The nitrite converts hemoglobin to methemoglobin in the bloodstream, making it unable to transport oxygen. The cattle die from nitrate poisoning because of a lack of oxygen to their cells and organs.
""

ToveroMom · 08-22-2008, 12:56 PM

I am really REALLY allergic to pigweed
http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/amare.htm
The odd thing is if it were a herd of pigs...they would be fine-they eat pigweed...but they do not have a rumen,so no health issue

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08-20-2008, 08:50 PM
azhorselover Weanling Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: prescott valley arizona Posts: 282	Breaking News! 40 dead cows!! Have questions This is in the online version of our local paper tonite! http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?Sec...icleID=5837 6 I am close to where this happened and have to be right there tomorrow morning also. Can a plant toxicity really kill 40 cows that quick! I am a little worried what happened. These cows are close to town. Any ideas anyone?

08-20-2008, 09:01 PM
Chic Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,237	Well, whatever caused it, 40 is a huge number for a plant to be suddenly growing naturally but not affect 160 of them. Hard to say... if it is a plant that is growing I hope they find out what it is before more eat it. __________________ Jewlery For Your HorseThe Kelley Square "I cannot do everything, but I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." Edward Hale

08-20-2008, 09:04 PM
azhorselover Weanling Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: prescott valley arizona Posts: 282	Thats what I thought would be odd (plant toxicity) and for them to die about the same time?? They said something about a bird dropping something? Do they mean botulism? and again to affect that many at once has me a little freaked out for my horses.

08-21-2008, 11:49 AM
Karen Cole Long Yearling Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,442	Yep, it can happen if the 60 that died were grazing in about the same space and that area happened to be where the toxic plant was growing it's possible. Also, could be possible that there is a burried car battery in the area that those few cattle licked although I think the death from that is slower. There was a farmer near us that lost alot of his herd that way and it took the vets some time to figure out what was wronge. Karen

08-21-2008, 01:45 PM
horselady Greenbroke Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: albany new york Posts: 3,332	How awful. Did one of the posts say that 70 horses were dead also? from the toxic plants. __________________ www.rainbow-horse-retirement.com We love and take care of your companion for the remainder of his lifetime

08-21-2008, 02:02 PM
David Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,066	Isn't Arizona pretty much a free range state? So couldn't this 40 have gotten into a canyon ,that the others weren't in, and gotten into something that killed them. I mean as big an area as those cows run on I'm sure that there are areas they only graze every couple of months. Just a hopefull thought... __________________ "If you see your stirrups slap together above the horn, you're probably bucked off". Dave Stamey.

08-21-2008, 02:08 PM
Gotta Love Duns Bombproof Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dixonville, Alberta Posts: 8,015	Wow that is a large loss for the rancher. I hope they find the source. __________________ A penny saved is a penny you can spend on your next horse.

08-21-2008, 04:02 PM
Horse poor Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,145	If there was oats that were starting to grow again after being cut that could cause that affect. They mention new growth from recent rains. You are not supposed to feed grains that were cut before they are in milk. They say they don't know the cause yet, but we had an incident like this where I used to live. The cattle got into a field of young grain and killed a bunch of then. It causes nitrate(sp) poisoning in both cattle and horses. How horrible for that rancher to lose that many all at once. __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.' - Thomas Jefferson

08-21-2008, 06:03 PM
Sunlei Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 950	The article mentions nitrates from the local people. I read about a die-off of a herd of mustangs about 70 horses. The BLM had a lab do testing of the water as all the horses died around the water-pool. The results are published somewhere, I'll look for it. I think it was nitrate poisoning, due to rain run off into the pool. Then there was a long dry period and the water got very low and concentrated the nitrates. Even though it had rained before the lab got the water samples, they said the nitrate levels were still lethal. In those areas it may pay to not count on rainfall run-off to replenish ponds/tanks and use well water or something like that for livestock.

08-21-2008, 06:57 PM
Sunlei Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 950	here we go I found it- report of runoff of deicer (anti-freeze) killing 80ish and then more recent 71 horses.- klas tv las vegas reports http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7418293 and the test results from the Desert research In.. It took several months to get the water tested but they finally had to do it. Test results, nitrates. This info and test results- was requested to be released under the Freedom of Information Act. http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medial...008 _dn-2.pdf "08/15/07 Final report. The pond muck (Sample 6 and 8) had very high nitrate and nitrite levels which could contribute to nitrate/nitrite toxicity. The dirt at the pond interface samples (Samples 4) contained 498 ppm nitrate and no nitrites. It is felt that these levels of nitrate and nitrite are toxic and may have contributed significantly to the death of the horses. From the samples submitted, I cannot determine the source of nitrates. It is possible that environmental conditions were just right to cause natural nitrogen fixing bacteria to multiply and elevate the levels of nitrates and nitrites in the water. It is possible that the poor water conditions and markedly depleted water hole may have had a high organic matter overload resulting in the production of nitrates and nitrites. I cannot also preclude nitrogen sources that could be manmade or natural. Further on the ground investigation for these sources will have to be performed to exclude these as possible sources of the nitrates and nitrites in the water. If a source is identified, please let me know since nitrate toxicity cases in horses are rare. If you wish more testing on some of the other samples please contact us as soon as possible."" Last edited by Sunlei : 08-21-2008 at 07:12 PM.

08-21-2008, 08:52 PM
peacecountrycowboy Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dixonville, Alberta Posts: 640	It's really hard to say what it is from what they say there. Like it's said in the article, it could be a whole wack of things. But nitrate poising is very dangerous and can happen about that fast. Usually that is the first thing they will look at. It is extreamly rare for this time of the year. We start to be careful about it around the time it begins to freeze. Grazing frost damaged green grain crops can cause nitrate poisioning. Even if baled. That's why if there's been frost before it's cut, they need to be tested for levels of nitrate. There's many ways though that the nitrates can reach dangerous levels. Like the bit about the water. __________________ Livestock Identification Services - A good partner will ride with you till hell freezes over and a little while on the ice

08-21-2008, 09:03 PM
peacecountrycowboy Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dixonville, Alberta Posts: 640	Here's a good article on understanding nitrate poisoning, http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$departm...f/all/agdex851 __________________ Livestock Identification Services - A good partner will ride with you till hell freezes over and a little while on the ice

08-22-2008, 07:15 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,313	Let us not confuse an already confusing issue with the dead cattle. Water with heavy nitrates in the desert are most often from natural and not man made sources. I was just out that way and they are having a very green and unusual spell of weather and friends are suspecting the runoffs for this-barring any additional news. Nitrates are not anti freeze..exclusively-by any means. __________________ "In America,anyone can be President. That is one of the chances you take" Adlai Stevenson

08-22-2008, 12:08 PM
Sunlei Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 950	Actually the rain can run off, fertilizers, manure anything on the ground, pool-up, the bacteria changes it to a toxic brew- and then animals drink it. The anti-freeze herd kill was because a airplane runway was next to the waterhole, planes were de-iced with anti-freeze and it ran off into the water. There are not to many lab reports in such detail about large herd kills by nitrates, except that one. That is why I posted that. Any other ground spilll could be what killed those cattle aswell. But wasn't the cattle pasture a pasture used for crops too? The majority of the herd was not effected. It's pretty strange and will be interesting to see their test results. They have this report up too. Pigweed? "Thursday, August 21, 2008 Pigweed may be the cause of death for over 40 cattle on a section of ranch area along Road 5 North in Chino Valley early Wednesday morning. "We received the results of a nitrate dipstick test of the cattle's ocular fluid," said Laura Oxley, public information officer for the Arizona Department of Agriculture. "It was an elevated nitrate level of more than 100. The normal range is 25." When cattle eat higher than normal amounts of nitrate, it accumulates in an area of the stomach called the rumen, according to the website www.uwex.edu. The nitrite converts hemoglobin to methemoglobin in the bloodstream, making it unable to transport oxygen. The cattle die from nitrate poisoning because of a lack of oxygen to their cells and organs. "" Last edited by Sunlei : 08-22-2008 at 12:11 PM.

08-22-2008, 12:56 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,313	I am really REALLY allergic to pigweed http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/amare.htm The odd thing is if it were a herd of pigs...they would be fine-they eat pigweed...but they do not have a rumen,so no health issue __________________ "In America,anyone can be President. That is one of the chances you take" Adlai Stevenson Last edited by ToveroMom : 08-23-2008 at 11:58 AM.