The calls, texts and emails began late last week and continued on Monday. The contacts were occurring because temperature early Monday morning was projected to be around 32oF in some areas of the state. Livestock producers wanted to know more about the risk of prussic acid poisoning when members of the sorghum family (sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass, and forage sorghum, and Johnsongrass present in pastures) are being utilized after a freeze event. The video produced discusses how to manage prussic acid in sorghums.
Another potential concern for individuals in Indiana where sorghum was stressed by drought conditions is nitrate content. When samples are being sent to a forage testing laboratory for quality analysis, it would be prudent to request a nitrate test if you were in a very dry in the late summer and early fall.
Sorghum-sudangrass suffered freeze damage this past weekend in some areas of Indiana. Prussic acid poisoning potential can be minimized with management. (Photo Credit: Keith Johnson)
