PSI-1 Management and Risk of Nitrate Toxicity in Annual Forages: Results of a Beef Cattle Producer Survey

Abstract

When utilizing annual forages, one challenge beef cattle producers may face is nitrate toxicity. To understand how often producers cope with and test for high nitrates in annual forages, an online survey was distributed through the “UNL Beefwatch” newsletter and participants of extension meetings in Kansas and Nebraska were encouraged to fill out the survey. Most respondents were from the Midwest (n = 107/115; 93%) and indicated that the issue of nitrate toxicity when feeding annual forages is important to them (70%). The majority of the respondents (85%) indicated that they utilize annual forages in three or more years out of five. Producers were more (P = 0.02) likely to test annual forages fed as hay (53%) than grazed (38%). However, there was a tendency (P = 0.09) for more producers to respond that they have had toxicity issues with annual forage pasture (34%) than with hay (24%). Producers were not more likely to test annual forage pasture (P = 0.28) or hay (P = 0.94) if they previously experienced a nitrate toxicity issue. A producer’s past experience with toxicity also did not impact the likelihood that they would graze (P = 0.31) or feed hay (P = 0.28) that tested high in nitrate in the future. The majority of producers responded that they “rarely” or “almost never” used the forage if a pasture (14%) or hay (36%) tested high. Though producers indicate concern about nitrate toxicity in annual forages, most have not experienced issues (62%) and those that have do not appear to make different management decisions based on that experience.