Farm & Ranch
Lead Toxicity in Cattle
By Barry Whitworth, DVM
Lead is one of the most common causes of poisoning in cattle. Most clinical signs of lead poisoning are usually associated with the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract.
The most common sources of lead are improper disposal of car and farm machinery batteries and used motor oil. Other sources include old structures with lead paint, linoleum, lead pipes, and grease from machinery. Since calves are more curious and prone to nibble or lick objects, poisoning is seen more frequently in calves than older cattle.
Most animals have a background level of lead. Toxicity occurs when the background level plus the amount ingested reaches a toxic level. Doses of 50 to 400 mg/kg may kill a calf. Higher doses (600 to 800 mg/kg) are required to kill adult cattle. Cattle that consume 7 mg/kg a day will eventually die from lead toxicity.
Clinical signs of lead toxicity appear acutely. Many times, producers just find dead animals. Most clinical signs observed are associated with the neurological system. One common sign is blindness. Producers may find a calf walking aimlessly or walking into objects.
Other signs are circling, head pressing, ataxia, muscle tremors, and convulsions. Occasionally, gastrointestinal system signs such as colic, anorexia, diarrhea, grinding of teeth, and frothing of the mouth precede the nervous signs.
Clinical signs of lead poisoning are similar to other nervous and gastrointestinal diseases. Some diseases that can be confused with lead poisoning are polioencephalomalacia, nervous coccidiosis, tetanus, rabies, and listeriosis.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Barry Whitworth, DVM
At the writing of this article, High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been detected in more than 83 million domestic poultry in the United States. The outbreak includes commercial and backyard flocks.
Most people are aware that poultry may succumb to Avian Influenza but may not know that other animals can be infected with the virus. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a variety of mammals have been infected with Avian Influenza H5N1 in the U.S.
The list of more than 200 mammals includes bears, foxes, skunks, coyotes, etc. Even marine animals such as dolphins and seals have been found with the virus. Current Avian Influenza H5N1 infections in poultry, mammals, and livestock in the U.S. can be found at the Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections.
Recently, ruminants have been diagnosed with Avian Influenza H5N1 in the U.S. The World Organization for Animal Health reported that neonatal goats displaying neurological clinical signs and death were positive for Avian Influenza.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Rayford Pullen | [email protected]
When May arrives, we start thinking about weed control. With two years of drought under our belts, grass grazed short and hay stocks depleted, what we do now will influence our forage conditions for the entire year. With 75 percent of our annual warm season forages made by July 15 in North Texas, we need to get the grass growing while the sun shines.
Speaking of the sun shining, the biggest deterrent to growing lots of grass is restricted sunlight, and the biggest sun blockers we have are weeds.
Have you noticed weeds are normally just slightly taller than your grass and are probably blocking 90 percent of the sunlight from reaching the grass itself? So obviously, we need to improve conditions, so sunlight reaches the plants we want to grow.
With grass extremely short, more sunlight is hitting the soil surface now, which in turn results in more weed seed germinating. With the moisture we have received, we expect an abundance of weeds this year.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Jared Groce
Rural land sales are continuing on a steady pace for early spring, with prices holding very strong with the sell-to-list price ratios remaining very high, even on properties that have been on the market for a longer than usual time period. The total number of transactions are picking up once again as the spring selling season kicks off, and the average acreage continues to decrease.
Larger acreage properties seem to be in higher demand than smaller properties currently, with many buyers simply parking cash in real estate to hedge against inflation. Interest rates seem to have settled down and most experts agree that rates will be reduced by the fed this year. Some lenders have programs in place that allow the buyer to reduce their rates without having to go through a full refinance ordeal.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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