The Meeker herald., 1900-06-16
WV Do.. soms Sorghum KIN ,


The Nebraska Experiment Station
has been unable 80 far to discover the
reason for the occasional fatal effects
of sorghum when fed green. A recent
report says:
In view of the common practice OF
cutting the FIRST crop of sorghum for
hay and pasturing the second crop, it
h not dihicult to understand the rea-
son for the prevailing impression re-
garding the Injurious effect Of the Sec
ond growth. It is very likely that if
the unmatured first growth were fed
az freely as is the second. the numbe.
Of cattle affected would be more nearly
the same In each case.
Beyond doubt the symptoms devel-
oped In all the cases cited indicate the
action Of some sort OF poison. The
sudden and violent death, the LESSONS
produced, and the post-mortem symp-
toms, all seem to point to one cause
poison. Yet, In the analysis made, no
poison was found, and 30 far as could
be ascertained no chemist has ever
found an appreciable quantity OF
poison In any sorghums. 1t is believed
that the suddenness of attack in such
cases does not necessarily preclude
other explanations than that O;
poisoning. An animal may be at times
in such a condition physically that
wholesome substances - substances
that are not Of themselves poisonous
will have, when eaten, toxic action
or even cause death. Prof. Connell
says regarding second growth cane.
'.in every case coming under my OBJ
servation, death has occurred when
the cows stomach was unaccustomed
to such food. A small amount Of this
crop swallowed quickly into the
paunch may produce vast quantity of
expansive gas, causing death" An
other authority, Prof. v. X. Chestnut.
states that the qualifications involved
in = definition Of poisonous plant
are numerous. II may suffice to say
that death In some cases is attribute
BILE not to any poison which the plant
contains but to immoderate or incau-
tious eating or to mechanical injury"
Before any decisive conclusion can
be drawn in regard to this trouble
some typical case must be studied in
all Its phases Besides studying the
plant microscopically and chemically.
1t will be necessary to consider the
animals more carefully. Their condi-
ton must be noted, the various foods
that have been supplied must be sub
jected to the closest scrutiny and the
ante-mortem as well as the post
mortem symptoms must be observed
and recorded.
1t must be admitted that positive
proof IL still lacking regarding the
cause Of the disease occasionally in
duced by sorghum plants. Negative re-
suits Of an analysis are usually not
satisfactory, but in this case they are
1t least quite conclusive. In view of
the analyses and OF the collateral evil
dence given, II seems certain that the
toxic effect Of this plant which mani
tssts itself at timss II not due to q
chemical potsoN inherent In the plant
and u Ao< peSNIfaf to the second
growth alone. Thij last statement ID
Of special Importance. It II In direct
contradiction to the prevailing popu-
lar. opinion. but all the facts at hand
sustain the conclusion. Tho proof Of
this once accepted and the prejudice
against the second growth thereby re-
moved, will result, 1t ID believed. In
greatly Increased use OF this valuable
forage crop. The greater the number
Of cases studied the more evident 1t
becomes that this Is matter governed
entirely by local conditions and that
the safety and health Of the herd may
b controlled to large measure by
the herder himself.