Injection of cerotic acid is destructive to the eye. Using the wood in a fireplace has caused dermatitis, as has working with seasoned wood. The gum has irritant properties. Reports on cattle toxicity vary. Mesquite poisoning may induce a permanent impairment of the ability to digest cellulose.
Death is attributed to high sugar content repressing the rumen-bacterial cellulose activity.
Mesquite feeding to pigs was promising during the first four weeks, deteriorating thereafter, perhaps due to phytohemagglutinins and trypsin inhibition. Germplasm Reported from the South American Center of Diversity, mesquite, or cvs thereof, is reported to tolerate drought, grazing, heavy soil, sand, as well as saline dry flats and weeds. According to the NAS, the tree ranges from sea level to 1,500 m. Hot water or acid treatment will expedite seed germination. For line fencing, seeds may be sown in two adjacent rows ca 50 cm apart, with a spacing of 30 cm between the sowings.