The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-01-11

Cattle suHer from poisoning from
forage plants to a greater extent than
any other class Of farm animals. OF
ten the sorehums viii poison 1t they
are eaten during the growing season
this seems especially true il the
growth is stunted Frost or second
growth cane may also prove danger
Gus, and finally cattle are lost IN
large numbers almost every fan after
they are turned on the stalk fields
No doubt some Of the losses attrib
uted to poisoning are due to impar
ton OF the rumen or paunch which I
is the first division Of the stomach, or
10 impaction OF the omasun, or third
division of the stomach
The stomach Of cattle is SO ar
ranged that 4 large amount of coarse
feed may be consumed The paunch
holds from 80 to 50 gallons and the
other divisions of the stomach will
hold several gallons more If there is
any poison present in the forage, even
in minute quantities. or II substances
are present that by fermentation will
form poisons. one can readily under
stand why cattle suffer from poison
ing or from impaction when they are
4 consuming large quantities Of dry
coarse forage
Last year the loss from pasturing
/ in stalk fields Was very heavy, and
the indications are that the loss will
he even greater this fall and winter
i The past season has been unusually
dry and the corn crop in many sec
tions did not mature as it should
The correspondence for several years
regarding corn stalk disease does not
Indicate that it Is prevalent 70 tile
Same extent every season. A stunt
ed, poorly matured plant is much
more likely to cause trouble when
used as forage than one normally ma
tured II is quite likely that the prey
alence Of corn stalk disease last year
and This IS due to the imperfectly
developed condition az the plant
The majority Of the losses report
ed occur soon after the stock are
turned in The field. This often occurs
within a few hours and generally
without any bloatinE. such condi-
tions naturally suggest the idea that
the trouble is the result Of poisoning
One chemist reporting on this irou
BILE fnds that in corn stalks there "a
present ferment capable Of form
ing hydrcryanic acid when brought
into coatsct with suitable material
Observations regarding the genera
prevalence OF corn stalk disease in.
dicates that all fields are not equally
dangerous Cattle may be lost in on'
field while other fields in The neigh
borhood may not be dangerous io
pasuring. Where inppaction Is th'
cause Of loss the animal may linge
from two to six days, and hloatini
may OF may not occur. In such case
ono has opportunity TO attempt treal
ment
Judging from correspondence Al
ready received this faIl Che cattle los
from corn stalk disease will be wort
more than the value OF the stalks TO
pasturing. 1t is Of course desirabl
to pasture stalk fields and 1t is ais
desirable to know II they may b
pastured with safety. No one ca
give definite information as to whetl
er a stalk field Will prove dangerou
or not The conservative and SAT
thing for the stoekman is not to tur
all Of his stock on such pasture unit
he knows something about it frol
his own observation. Turn two {
three head into the field aud ohsers
them This is much safer than ris
ing 80 or 40 head Of cattle on sue
pasture when the general report ovl
the country indicates that stalk fel,
are especially dangerous Even whei
no loss follows the pasturing of tv
OF three head Of cattle for few day
would not consider ii safe 70 tai
large numbers Of cattle into sta
fields and let theu remain the
continually Some advocate feedli
wen with hay before turning
stalks. and then allowing the stock
remain for only one hour or so. 4
first few days If no losses occ
the length Of time may he gradual
increased until the stock are pastur
continuously in the fields sto
should have an abundance Of wat
and salt at all times. but especia
when pasturing on stalk fields. i
y. Lewis. Department Of Zoology a
Veterinary Science