NITRATE POISONING IN CATTLE, SHEEP AND GOATS

Dan Undersander, Dave Combs, Randy Shaver,

Nitrate poisoning is a condition which may affect ruminants consuming certain forages or water that contain an excessive amount of nitrate.

Causes of Nitrate Poisoning

Under normal conditions, nitrate ingested by ruminant livestock, like cattle, sheep and goats, is converted to ammonia and then bacterial protein in the rumen by bacteria. The steps of conversion in this process are as follows:

------Bacterial Protein------

Nitrate (NO₃) ——› Nitrite (NO₂) ——› Ammonia (NH₃) ——› Amino Acid ——› Protein

Nitrate is converted to nitrite faster than nitrite is converted to ammonia. Consequently, when higher than normal amounts of nitrate are consumed, an accumulation of nitrite may occur in the rumen. Nitrite then will be absorbed into the bloodstream and will convert hemoglobin to methemoglobin, which is unable to transport oxygen. Thus, when an animal dies from nitrate poisoning, it is due to a lack of oxygen.

The occurrence of nitrate poisoning is difficult to predict because nitrate levels can change rapidly in plants and the toxicity of nitrate varies greatly among livestock due to age, health status, and diets. However, concern should certainly be raised when plant growth has been less than half of normal or nitrogen application more than twice recommended.

Nitrate Levels in Plants

Plants normally take up nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrate, regardless of the form of nitrogen fertilizer (including manure) applied. However little nitrate accumulates in plants, when growth is normal, because the plant stem and leaves rapidly convert nitrate to plant amino acids and protein. Under certain conditions, however, this balance can be disrupted so that the roots will take up nitrate faster than the plant can convert the nitrate to protein.

The nitrate-to-protein cycle in a plant is dependent on three factors:

- Adequate water

- Energy from sunlight

- A temperature conducive to rapid chemical reactions.

If any one of these factors is inadequate, the root continues to absorb nitrate at the same rate while storing it unchanged in the stalk and lower parts of the leaves. When this situation develops, nitrate accumulates.

Nitrates may also accumulate in plants from excessive nitrogen fertilization, for example on fields where a large amount of manure have been applied.

Some plants are more likely to accumulate nitrate that others. Crops capable of high levels of nitrate accumulation under adverse conditions include corn, small grains, sudangrass, and sorghum. Weeds capable of nitrate accumulation include pigweed, lambsquarter, sunflower, bindweed and many others. Vegetables capable of accumulating large amounts of nitrate that are most frequently grazed include sugar beets, lettuce, cabbage, potatoes and carrots.

Nitrates in Water

Nitrates and nitrites are water soluble. They move with the water. Any nitrate added to, or produced within, the soil may be leached or washed away by moving water--either by surface run-off or ground water percolation.

Nitrates are more concentrated below or near the area of waste accumulation or disposal such as manure piles, feedlots, septic tank disposal fields, cesspools, privies, etc. Excess nitrates also are more apt to be found in ground water under low areas and waterways that collect or convey

Water samples from shallow, dug, bored and driven wells more frequently contain excess nitrates than water from deeper, drilled wells. Nitrate levels generally are highest following wet periods and lowest, even down to zero nitrates, during dry periods which may cause a false sense of security. Preferably, a well should be tested immediately following a wet period.

Toxicity Variation

Ruminant livestock can tolerate a wide range of nitrate, depending on several factors. Factors making nitrate less toxic include:

Ø The animal can become conditioned to eat larger amounts of feed with high nitrate content if the increase is gradual.

Ø Healthy animals are less likely to be adversely affected than animals in poor health.

Ø Adequate amounts of available carbohydrates (grain) allow the animal to consume more nitrate because carbohydrates enhance the conversion process from nitrate to microbial protein.

Factors making nitrate more toxic include:

§ Rapid diet changes can trigger nitrate poisoning.

§ Parasitism or other conditions causing anemia will increase susceptibility.

§ Nitrate in more than one diet component (e.g. water and forage).

Symptoms of Nitrate Problems

Many general symptoms such as poor appetite, weak calves, lambs or kids, abortions, poor growth, and general unthrifty conditions are frequently blamed on nitrate. These and other general problems can also be caused by a number of disease, nutritional or managerial problems. Therefore, it is essential to study the situation thoroughly before concluding that nitrate is the problem.

Simple chronic nitrate toxicity is rare. More likely, high nitrate is only one of several factors resulting in poor performance. For example, poor performance on a ration that is low in energy or lacking in essential minerals is apt to be worse if nitrate is also present. When good feeding and management practices are followed, it is very difficult to produce chronic nitrate problems.

Many factors have been suggested to explain the different results obtained in research trials studying the nitrate problem. Age, condition, and species of the animal, other chemical compounds and nutrients in the ration, and the types of nitrogen compounds in the feed or water are some of the factors that must be considered.

The most dramatic nitrate toxicity problems have occurred when hungry cattle were put on corn stalks, oat straw or weedy pasture. Under these conditions the highest nitrate feeds are fed as the total ration, and the feeding of well-balanced rations and adaptation by the animal are ignored. Sudden change to high nitrate corn silage as the main feed can cause problems. Milking cows and other animals receiving large amounts of grain are not as likely to have nitrate toxicity problems as dry cows, heifers and other animals because the milking cows are on a higher energy ration and because the high nitrate feedstuff is likely to be a smaller proportion of the total diet..

Grains and other concentrates are low in nitrate. Forages (leaves and stems) will accumulate more nitrate than grains. Because forage comprises a larger percentage of ruminants dies, high nitrate in feed is more likely to be of concern in feeding ruminants than non-ruminants. However, nitrate from feed or water can cause problems for all animals and to humans.

Taking an Accurate Sample for Analysis

If fresh-chopped forage or silage is suspected of being high in nitrates, it should be tested. Samples can be analyzed by some commercial forage testing laboratories as well as by the University of Wisconsin Soil & Forage Analysis Lab (8396 Yellowstone Dr., Marshfield, WI, 54449) and the Soil & Plant Analysis Lab (8452 Mineral Point Rd., Verona, WI, 53593).

The two key steps to getting accurate nitrate analysis are:

1) To make sure the sample is representative of the feed or water that is being analyzed.

2) To prevent loss of the nitrate between sampling and laboratory analysis.

Sampling for Nitrate Analysis

Silage

• Take samples during the unloading process. (If indoors, make sure silo room is well ventilated.)

• Take at least 5 separate samples while unloading.

• Mix well and remove about 0.5 lb for testing.

Green-chopped Forage

• Collect several handfuls from different loads or different parts of a load.

• Mix well and remove about 0.5 lb for testing.

Standing Corn or Sorghum

• Cut at least 15 whole plants taken at random.

• Cut plants at same height as field chopper.

• Chop plants into one-half inch lengths and mix well.

• Remove about 0.5 lb for testing.

Preventing Nitrate Loss in the Sample

Preventing nitrate loss in the sample before analysis is critical to getting accurate results. This is difficult in silages and fresh forages therefore it is best to take fresh silages and samples directly to the laboratory. If samples must be held or shipped, samples should be frozen or dried before shipment. Freeze samples in airtight, plastic bags for at least 24 hours and ship in insulated containers to reach the laboratory while still frozen. (DO NOT ship samples late in the week to risk getting delayed over the weekend.) Alternatively, dry samples by spreading in a thin layer on clean paper to dry. Artificial heat is desirable, but the sample should not get above 160^o F. Fresh forages will ferment in airtight bags and for this reason are usually dried. Silage samples are usually frozen because it is difficult to dry without losing volatile materials.

Water samples should be collected in special water sample bottles obtained from the laboratory or from the health agency in the area. To obtain a good sample of water from a well, let the water run until water in pipes and pressure tank has been discharged. It is comparatively easy to get a good water sample and the laboratory analysis is also more standardized. There is less variation in test results from water than feed. However, nitrate levels in water can vary considerably from month to month.

Results of analysis on the same sample of feed can vary considerably due to limitations of chemical test used. Variations of 100 parts per million in a feed are well within the range of expected errors. Results of tests on feeds containing small amounts of nitrate might appear large but could be within the normal tolerance of test used. For example, if a report on one sample of silage shows 200 parts per million of NO₃-N and another report shows 300 ppm of NO₃-N, they are for all practical purposes the same. If reported as percent, the variation does not appear as large. In the above example, the percent NO₃-N is .02 and .03.

Interpreting and Using Nitrate Reports

Results of nitrate analysis may be confusing because of the variation in methods of reporting. In the chemical analysis for nitrate, the actual element determined is the oxidized nitrogen. However, values may be reported as percent nitrate (NO₃), or nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N). Efforts have been made to have nitrate analysis and tolerances for safety uniformly reported as nitrate-nitrogen on 100 percent dry matter basis. However, at present, reports may be given as nitrate or nitrate-nitrogen and may be reported as either percent or as parts per million (ppm).

Table 1 converting one from of nitrate to another
Reported as	Convert to
Nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N)	Nitrate (NO₃)	Multiply by 4.4
Nitrate (NO₃)	Nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N)	Multiply by 0.23
Above is used whether results are expressed as percent (%) or parts per million (ppm)
Percent	Parts per million (ppm)	Move decimal point four places to right
Parts per million	Percent (%)	Move decimal point four places to left
Above conversion is used for either nitrate-nitrogen or nitrate

Example: 0.1% NO₃-N is equal to 0.44% NO₃ (.1 x 4.4)

0.44% NO₃ is equal to 0.1% NO₃-N (.44 x .23)

Example: 0.1 percent equals 1000 ppm.

Example: 750 ppm equals .075 percent.

Toxic Effects of Nitrate

With all the biological variation that can exist in both plants and animals, it is obviously difficult to develop specific guidelines that fit all conditions. Safe levels of nitrate are not specifically known for all the various livestock feeding conditions. At the same time, some general guidelines are needed. The concept in developing the tables that follow is to be conservative to help assure safety. At the same time, reasonable feeding and care of the animal is assumed. There are two kinds of possible toxicity that are of concern: (1) Acute or lethal and (2) Chronic or non-lethal.

Table 2. Guidelines for determining effect of total nitrate intake¹
Total daily intake		Comment
NO₃-N	NO₃
Grams per 100 pounds body weight.
<1.0	<4.4	Normal or usual intake. Generally safe under all conditions.
1.0 to 2.0	4.4 to 8.8	Safe for most animals. May be hazardous to pregnant and very young animals.
2.0 to 3.0	8.8 to 13.2	Potentially dangerous to pregnant and young animals. May result in poor appetite, slow growth, abortions, and decrease in milk production. Missouri research reports decline in milk production at 3.5 grams of NO₃-N per 100 pounds of body weight.
3.0 to 4.0	13.2 to 25.6	Hazardous intake level for all animals. Poor appetite, vitamin A deficiency, abortions and general production lowered.
Over 4.0	Over 25.6	Acute toxicity likely in most animals. In dairy cattle 10 grams of NO₃-N per 100 pounds of body weight resulted in a 50% death rate.
¹ The amounts suggested in this table are calculated from the levels given in Table 4 for feeds when feed intake is 2.2 pounds per 100 pounds of body weight.

Example: A 1400 lb cow consuming 14 grams of nitrate-nitrogen (about 0.5 ounce) in the water and feed each day would be a normal and safe intake. If she consumed 14 grams in water and another 20 grams in feed, total intake is 35 grams, or 2.5 grams per 100 pounds of weight - possible danger.

Reports on Nitrates in Water

Nitrate content of water is usually reported as ppm but both NO₃ and NO₃-N are used. Conversion factors are the same as those in table 1.

Example: 10 ppm of NO₃-N is the same as 44 ppm of NO₃ (nitrate).

If reported as milligrams per liter (mg/1), this is the same as parts per million (ppm). Guidelines for the use of drinking water with known nitrate content are presented in table 3.

Table 3. Guidelines for use of drinking water with known nitrate content.
NO₃-N	NO₃	Comment
ppm		Comment
< 10	< 44	Generally regarded as safe for all animals and humans.
10 to 20	44 to 88	Questionable or risky for humans, especially young children and pregnant women. Safe for livestock unless feed also has high levels. Animal drinking 10 pounds of water per 100 pounds of body weight would have intake of less than 0.1 gram NO₃-N per hundred pounds of weight if water contains 20 ppm NO₃-N.
20 to 40	88 to 176	Considered unsafe for humans. Might cause problems for livestock. If ration contains more than 1000 ppm nitrate-nitrogen and the water contains over 20 ppm, the total NO₃-N is apt to exceed safe levels.
40 to 100	176 to 440	Unsafe for humans and risky for livestock. Be sure feed is low in nitrates and be sure a well-balanced ration is fed. Fortify ration with extra vitamin A.
100 to 200	440 to 880	Dangerous and should not be used. General or non-specific symptoms such as poor appetite likely to develop. Water apt to be contaminated with other foreign substances. When allowed free choice to cows on a good ration, acute toxicity not likely.
Over 200	Over 880	Don't use. Acute toxicity and some death losses might occur in swine. Probably too much total intake for ruminants on usual feeds. In research trials, water containing up to 300 ppm NO₃-N has been fed to swine and water containing over 1000 ppm of NO₃-N has been fed to lambs without causing any measurable growth or reproductive problems. However, for farm recommendation the suggestions given above are purposely conservative.

SUGGESTIONS FOR MINIMIZING NITRATE PROBLEMS

Toxicity or safety of a feed containing more than normal amounts of nitrate involves many factors. These include total daily intake of nitrate, previous adaptation of the animal to high nitrate, feeding practices, nutritional quality of the ration and general health of the animal. In addition, the nitrate level of the water may be a contributing factor.

The following are the major factors that influence possible nitrate problems. Preventing or changing a condition that increases the problem will help decrease or prevent the problem.

Total nitrate intake is the critical problem rather than the amount in any one feed in the ration. For example, a dangerous level in a feed that makes up the total ration could be perfectly safe if it comprised only half the ration. Likewise, a safe level in the feed may be a problem if the water also contains high levels of nitrate.

Suggestion - Determine nitrate in all suspicious feeds and in the water. Limit the amount of any questionable feed. Forages, especially corn and oat silages, green chop or pasture and weeds, are the most common sources of the problem. Limits may need to be greater if the water also contains significant nitrate levels.

Nitrate in one dose may be very toxic while the same amount divided into several smaller doses is perfectly safe. For example, in one study, giving a 1000 pound cow 150 grams (about 5 ounces) of nitrate (NO₃) in one dose produced acute toxicity. Spraying three times as much, or 450 grams (about one pound) of nitrate on the hay consumed in a day, did not produce acute toxicity.

Suggestion - If a feed contains questionable amounts of nitrate, divide the daily feeding into smaller feedings. For example, feed ten pounds of silage 3 or 4 times per day rather than feeding 30 or 40 pounds at one feeding.

Nitrate is not normally accumulated in the animal because it is continually converted to other nitrogen compounds that are utilized or excreted in the urine and feces. The ability to utilize and effectively excrete the nitrogen compounds requires adaptation by the animal. A toxic level given to a cow that had been on a very low nitrate intake could be a safe level if the same amount had been gradually added to the ration. If a toxic level is fed repeatedly, liver and kidney damage can occur.

Suggestion - If a feed is questionable, feed a small amount for a week; if no problem is noted the amount can be increased. When changing to a new feed or different source of feed, it is always better to make the change gradually.

Safe utilization of nitrate requires general good nutrition and proper rumen function in cattle, sheep and goats. Rumen micro-organisms require readily available carbohydrate, protein and minerals. Additional vitamin A reduces the toxic effects of nitrates in poultry.

Suggestion - Feed a balanced ration. Liberal feeding of a good grain mix insures adequate levels of energy and protein. Minerals should be provided in the grain mixture, as well as by free choice feeding of trace mineral salt and a calcium-phosphorus supplement. Nitrates might destroy or interfere with the conversion of carotene to vitamin A; therefore, the use of a protein source that contains vitamin A or adding a vitamin A supplement in some way is generally advised when high nitrate feeds are used. Avoid feeding high nitrate feeds to animals that are unthrifty or sick for any reason. Do not feed questionable forages to cows that have impaired rumen function. Elimination of high nitrate feeds from rations for dry and recently early lactation cows is also a good practice.

Nitrates can accumulate in plants when adverse growing conditions such as drought, hot weather, cool weather or frost slows the growth of the plants. Cool season crops such as small grains and permanent forage grasses may accumulate nitrates in hot, dry weather while warm season crops such as corn and sorghums can accumulate nitrates when the temperatures are low or when growth has been arrested due to frost.

Suggestions - Nitrates primarily accumulate in the lower stems and leaves of corn, sorghums, small grains, grasses and weeds. They seldom accumulate at sufficiently high concentrations to be a problem in legumes. If the nitrates are suspected to be a problem, avoid harvesting the basal portions of the plant. Avoid pasturing hungry animals or green feeding on drought stunted crops or weedy pastures. Place suspect crops in the silo and allow to ferment for one to three months before feeding and then follow suggestions given previously. Ensiling will allow conversion of nitrate to ammonia and may reduce nitrate levels by 30 to 50%. Haymaking does not reduce the nitrate level of the forage.

Nitrates are hazardous to man. Silo gases are a common cause of both chronic and acute respiratory problems to farmers. When plants are high in nitrate at time of ensiling, various nitrogen gases are formed. Nitrogen dioxide is a brownish yellow gas with a bleach-like odor, that is sometimes seen coming down the silo chute or is layered on top of the silo below closed doors. The gas is heavier than air so it accumulates in low enclosed areas. Nitrogen dioxide is potentially very dangerous to man and animals.

Suggestions - Don't leave the silo room door open to the barn as the gas may come down from the silo and kill animals in the barn overnight. Be sure to ventilate a recently filled silo before entering it by running the blower for several minutes. Open outside doors or windows near bottom of the silo chute and use fan to force gas outside. Escaping nitrogen in the form of gas from the silo reduces nitrate content of silage. Presence of the yellow gas during filling does not mean the silage will be dangerous as a feed, however, it is good evidence that high nitrate was present. Therefore, this silage should be checked for nitrate before feeding.

Table 4. Guidelines for use of feeds with known nitrate content.
Nitrate content on 100% dry matter basis¹			Comment
NO₃-N		NO₃
ppm
<1000	<4400		Safe. A 1000 pound cow consuming 20 pounds of dry matter would consume about 9 grams of NO₃-N or less than 1 gram per 100 pounds of body weight.
1000 to 2000	4400 to 8800		Generally safe when fed balanced rations. Best to limit it to half of the total dry ration for pregnant animals and also be sure water is low in nitrate.
2000 to 4000	8800 to 15000		Limit amount to less than half of total dry ration. Be sure ration is well fortified with energy, minerals, vitamin A.
Over 4000	Over 15000		Potentially toxic - do not feed.
¹ If nitrate content of a feed is reported on an "as is" basis, convert to 100% dry matter basis to compare it to levels in this table. Example: If a corn silage sample with 50% water contains 600 ppm NO₃-N on an "as is" basis, it contains 1200 ppm on 100% dry basis; thus it fits the second group in this table.

Table 5. Typical nitrate content of common feeds (dry matter basis). Normal levels are considered as generally safe
Feed stuff	NO₃-N	NO₃
Corn grain	5	22
Oat grain	10	44
Soybean oil meal	1	4
Fresh alfalfa or alfalfa hay	400	1760
Alfalfa silage	200	880
Fresh chopped corn	1000	4400
Fermented corn silage	500	2200

1. Variations of 100 ppm of NO₃-N can be expected due to sampling and analytical errors.

2. Grains and grain products are very low in nitrate and very seldom approach the most conservative guidelines for safe levels.

3. Legume forages such as alfalfa are lower than grass or grain forages. For example, alfalfa silage is lower than corn silage.

4. Nitrate problems are most apt to occur in animals fed mostly forages. The problem is more apt to occur when the forage is primarily non-legume.

¹Dan Undersander is in the Department of Agronomy, Dave Combs, and Randy Shaver are in the Department of Dairy Science, and David Thomas are in the Department of Meat and Animal Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Cooperative Extension Service.

²Much of the material in this publication is from J.W. Crowley. 1985. Effects of Nitrate on Livestock. American Society of Agricultural Engineers. Paper Number 80-20026.