TOXIC PLANTS AND LIVESTOCK

Press Release Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service 1304 West Stevens Carlsbad, NM 88220 For More Information, Contact: Woods Houghton, Eddy County Agriculture Agent Eddy County Cooperative Extension Service Phone: 575-887-6595 Fax: 575-887-3795 whoughto@nmsu.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Release TOXIC PLANTS AND LIVESTOCK This is one of those years where I have received a number of calls on toxic plants to all classes of livestock, cattle, sheep and horses. It is somewhat unusual in that we have had little snow. Usually it snows and the only thing sticking out of the snow is toxic. Well this year in Eddy County we received good late season rain then nothing since. This is my own thought after doing this for almost 40 years but toxicity for most of our plants this is a perfect storm, good fast growth period then stresses of drought. Besides the environment factors that influence the consumption of toxic plants include such things as Palatability, availability, soil, plant parts, toxin class and sex of livestock, color, condition and other supplemental feed or nutrition level of the individual. The palatability of a plant is real important and it changes with conditions. When there is lots of good grass usually the toxic ones are not eaten, why eat saw dust when you have ice cream factor. But in early growth many plants that are unpalatable become palatable for at least short periods of time. African rue is an example; livestock usually won’t eat it 50 weeks out of the year. But when it is the only green plant, or only one sticking out of the snow, or just greening up livestock will eat and die. Most of the other item mention above are self-explanatory, but one that come up is color of the livestock. White pigment will be where toxin that cause photosensitivity in livestock often occurs first on white skin. This is seen in horse grazing alfalfa in the winter time. Management to reduce loss of livestock is what is most effective. Because of a vast rangelands and most of it is leased from the federal government often control is difficult. We are fortunate in Eddy County that a weed management group was formed almost 20 years ago now. Through a MOU BLM, State land office, SWCD, Forest Service, Eddy County Extension Service, State department of transportation and others, more than 20 groups have come together to act as a coordinated unit to control mostly noxious weeds. I know I was trying to do a African Rue herbicide trial and just a few years ago I had no trouble finding enough African Rue to do 10 trials, this year it took me five days of driving to find two locations barley big and dense enough. These management principles are really just best management principles anyway but they include, proper stocking rate, don’t have more animals than there is forage to feed them. Animals that are well fed don’t go looking for saw dust, those unpalatable plants. Turning livestock out in at the right time. We used to graze cotton stalks, and alfalfa with cattle in the winter, this rested the native range and helped clean up cropland fields. That practice has declined in the last few years. Graze with animals familiar with the area, that is difficult some time when restocking after a drought but new animals often eat what they should not. Making sure you have the correct mineral supplement out. This changes with time and composition of forage. I have some producer who used the shotgun approach and had three or more source of mineral and they tell me that certain times of the year of gestation cycle the cow will feed on one and not the other. When grazing wheat or small grains you have to have Magnesium in their mineral. Drought often good plants will mature early and set seed while toxic ones stay green. NMSU Cooperative Extension has a really good circular on this number 678 it is available on line or we can get you a copy. In Roswell Wednesday, February 14, Join us in Chaves County for breakfast starting at 8 a.m. A Rancher’s Roundtable discussion will follow, starting at 9a.m., with experts available to answer your questions about range livestock production. Lunch will be served at noon with BQA training/re-certification to follow. Free to attend,pleaseregisteratwww.corona.nmsu.edu ; Subscribe to Eddy County Ag news at: http://nmsueddyag.blogspot.com/ Eddy County Extension Service, New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. New Mexico State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Eddy County Government Cooperating.