Nitrate Poisoning in Ruminants

Nitrate poisoning in ruminants such as cattle, buffaloes, goats and sheep can occur due to consumption of forage to feed the nitrate content in bulk. Forage feed is feed that must be given to livestock. Usually this will not cause problems, but it turns out when one of the gift can be fatal to livestock. One of the things that must be considered in the administration when the grass is obtained from a location just had fertilizer. Nitrate poisoning occurs in ruminants, due to nitrate-containing forages consumed in large quantities and the process of reduction of nitrate to nitrite in the rument. Nitrate levels in forage allowed is 2000 mg / kg of fresh grass. In the case of livestock deaths due to nitrate poisoning, can be very unpredictable, and the cow died suddenly. Cattle or livestock poisoning show no symptoms of illness such as not eating or otherwise. Instead cow ate heartily, but suddenly died. After examination of the remaining forage is eaten, it forages contain nitrate 6250 mg / kg of forage.

Provision of a variety of artificial fertilizers (urea) or excessive natural fertilizer on the plant will increase the concentration of nitrate in soil and forage crops. Ammonium or potassium nitrate which is absorbed by the roots will be distributed to leaf through the stem. Nitrate concentrations in the plant will increase and the highest score on one or two weeks after fertilization and then will decline from the third week. Therefore, the time is right for cutting forage for livestock is safe to eat five weeks after fertilization. Because at that time period, the production of the highest N and lowest nitrate accumulation. The grass is cut less than 5 weeks after fertilization should not be used for feed, because of the risk of nitrate poisoning in cattle.

Actually own less toxic nitrate. Once the forage eaten by cattle or other ruminants, and to the rumen, then the nitrate will be reduced to nitrite by rumen microbes. This nitrite compounds which are toxic. Nitrite ions are formed and absorbed by the blood into erythrocytes. Ion then oxidizes the Fe2 + (ferrous) in hemoglobin (MetHb). Hb transports oxygen that should function after the turn into MetHb no longer able to carry oxygen to all body tissues. As a result of livestock experience shortness of breath due to lack of oxygen (hypoxia).

When cattle consume forage containing high nitrate in large quantities, it will cause toxicity. This makes the blood MetHb levels reached 20-30% of normal Hb, start going hypoxia. If this situation continues, it will be fatal. Death will occur if the MetHb levels reach 80-90% of normal Hb. Hb into MetHb changes can be detected from changes in blood color, namely red (normal) to red-brown color (dark color). Change the color of blood is a specific characteristic of the symptoms of nitrite poisoning. Other symptoms are difficulty breathing, breathing fast and shallow and rapid heart rate but weak. In the pregnant animals, the possibility of abortion in the nitrate-nitrite poisoning is acute.

Intake of grass / forage in taungya farming system of the new urea fertilizer or making a lawn that grows around the disposal of livestock manure is reported to contain high nitrates. It can be dangerous because the chance of accidental poisoning, when the grass is consumed by livestock in large numbers.

As a step to prevent nitrate poisoning is not to provide forage coming from the vicinity of the disposal of manure, or taken from the location of the new fertilizer. To be safe forage cutting should be done 5 weeks after fertilization. Withered or forage should be aerated before given to livestock.