Hay, straw or fodder suspected of being high in nitrate should not be fed when damp. Damp feed seems to be more toxic. The probable explanation is that some of the nitrate is converted to the more toxic nitrite before being consumed. Summary Nitrate poisoning can be a serious problem for livestock producers if not considered in their management plan. Drought, excessive soil nitrogen, shade, frost, certain herbicides, acid soils, low growing temperatures and nutrient deficiencies can contribute to high nitrate levels in plants.
Stems usually have higher nitrate content than leaves.
Do not overlook the nitrate content of water when a nitrate problem arises. Avoid poisoning by routinely testing any forage suspected of containing excessive nitrate. High nitrate forages can be used by diluting it with other feedstuffs and supplementing it with energy. 1 Colorado State University Cooperative Extension feedlot specialist and professor, animal sciences. Go to top of this page.