As frosts and freezes move south across Texas, common annual questions from producers always come regarding potential for prussic acid (cyanide) and nitrate in forages.
The attached info (outline below) has been submitted for publishing in this month’s AgriLife Extension “Texas Row Crops Newsletter,” https://agrilife.org/texasrowcrops/
Calvin Trostle
Extension agronomist, D-2/Lubbock
Prussic Acid and Nitrate in Forages, Especially Sorghums
Prussic acid (cyanide)
- Is prussic acid that big a deal? I have heard cattle can handle it.
- Does hybrid pearl millet develop prussic acid?
Nitrates in sorghums and other forages
- AgriLife Extension’s “Nitrates and Prussic Acid in Forages,” E-543
Testing for Prussic Acid and Nitrate in Forages
- Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab recommended for prussic acid test, testing instructions in TVMDL’s “Cyanide and Nitrate in Forages“
Bottom Line–Knowing how to best protect animal health
- A case study–Snyder, TX, 2002
For additional reading–United Sorghum Checkoff Program Info./Dr. Brent Bean
21-11Nov03 S&CS Sorghums & Forages–Prussic.Nitrate Poisons