With greater than 60% of North Dakota in extreme or exceptional drought, crops across the state are facing significant quality and yield challenges.
In addition, livestock producers are concerned about having adequate forage for hay and grazing. Utilizing drought-affected crops for livestock feed is a common practice; however, producers must consider the potential risks. One factor that needs to be considered is the risk of nitrate toxicity.
Nitrate toxicity is a potential issue for livestock consuming small-grain forages (wheat, barley, oats, etc.), brassicas, millet, sorghum and sudangrass, and standing corn or corn harvested for hay. Although nitrates typically are not an issue on rangelands, pastures with nitrate-accumulating weeds such as kochia, lambsquarter, pigweed, quackgrass and thistle also may be a problem. Nitrate toxicity is most commonly a problem in ruminants, with cattle more susceptible than sheep.
“Nitrate is a common form of nitrogen found in the soil, which is taken up by plants and converted to protein through the process of photosynthesis,” says Janna Block, Extension livestock systems specialist at North Dakota State University’s Hettinger Research Extension Center. “Under normal growing conditions, nitrate does not accumulate in the plant. However, when plants encounter stressful growing conditions, photosynthesis is inhibited and the potential for accumulation of nitrates is increased.”
Block notes, “It is important to recognize that drought is not the only condition that can lead to nitrate accumulation; however, it is the condition most commonly associated with nitrate issues. Prolonged cool temperatures and cloudy conditions also can disrupt the conversion process and cause nitrate to build up in plants. Additionally, nitrates may accumulate due to conditions that reduce leaf area and limit photosynthesis, such as frost, hail or disease.”
The risk of nitrate toxicity increases when high rates of nitrogen fertilizer have been applied.
When beef cattle consume increased quantities of nitrate, it overwhelms the ability of rumen microbes to convert nitrate to protein. This results in a buildup of nitrite in the rumen, which is 10 times more toxic than nitrate.
Excess nitrite is absorbed into the bloodstream, which removes the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and causes the animal to suffocate. Cases of lower-level, chronic toxicity also can occur. In those cases, producers may observe weight loss, night blindness and abortions in their cattle.
Here are several strategies to reduce the risk of nitrate toxicity:
* If applying nitrogen fertilizer, divide the total application into two or more treatments.
* Control potential nitrate-accumulating weeds in pastures.
* Avoid cutting forage or allowing cattle to graze it in the morning, when nitrate levels are at their highest.
* Consider raising the cutter bar when harvesting forage because the majority of nitrates accumulate in the lower one-third of the stem.
* Consider delays in harvesting to allow plants to mature because nitrate levels are typically greatest in young plants. Keep in mind that mature plants still can contain excess nitrate and this strategy also can result in decreased forage quality.
“Producers planning to graze nitrate-accumulating forages should take additional steps to minimize risks,” Block advises. “Nitrate concentration can be extremely variable within areas of a field, and predicting and managing grazing animals’ intake is difficult.”
Here are some other ways to help reduce the nitrate risk:
* If possible, avoid grazing by pregnant, sick or thin animals due to increased susceptibility.
* Stock lightly so that animals can select leaves and are not forced to eat the lower portions of stems.
* Ensure that cattle receive a full feed of hay before turnout and observe cattle frequently for the first week or so of grazing.
* Provide energy supplements to help rumen bacteria convert nitrate to protein.
“The most important recommendation is to test for nitrates prior to grazing or haying,” Block says.
Many NDSU Extension offices have access to a Nitrate QuikTest, which is a screening tool to assess whether nitrate is present in standing forage. Extension agents who have been certified can conduct the test in a field or office setting. Producers should provide a representative sample of at least 20 stems by clipping them to ground level while traveling in a zigzag pattern across the field.
“If nitrates are present in the sample, producers should delay grazing or harvesting for several days and then retest,” Block says. “Samples also can be submitted to a laboratory for quantitative analysis to further assist with management decisions.”
The Nitrate QuikTest is not designed to evaluate nitrate content in harvested forages. The best testing strategy for forages that already have been cut and baled is to use a bale probe to collect core samples and submit them to a laboratory for analysis.
Ideally, 10% of bales or at least 20 core samples per lot of forage should be collected. A lot is defined as hay harvested within 48 hours from the same field.
Nitrate concentrations do not decrease through time in stored forages because photosynthesis is required for conversion of nitrates in the plant. Ensiling can decrease nitrate content through fermentation, but samples still should be submitted for analysis after the fermentation process has taken place to determine accurate levels.
“Producers need to understand the potential risks of nitrate toxicity and the factors leading to nitrate accumulation in plants,” Block says. “Determining actual levels of nitrate present in grazed and harvested forages hay is critical to be able to utilize these feedstuffs in a safe manner.”
Source : ndsu.edu