Some producers may be considering supplementary feeding their livestock with grain or pellets.
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Such feeding can bring many benefits, but also carries the risk of grain poisoning.
Grain poisoning occurs when large amounts of starch are eaten and then rapidly fermented in the rumen or first stomach.
This leads to the excessive production of lactic acid, which is absorbed into the animal's body, reinforcing the condition's other name, lactic acidosis.
Grain poisoning may occur when:
- grain or pellets are introduced too quickly
- there is a sudden increase in the amount of grain or pellets being fed
- there is a change in type of grain or pellets being fed
- there is insufficient feeding space leading to the dominant animals overeating
- farmers are unaware the same precautions need to be followed when feeding pellets
- accidental overeating due to storage areas not being sealed.
The clinical signs of grain poisoning should become apparent within 24 to 36 hours after the access to grain or pellets.
In mild cases, cattle and sheep may show a decrease in appetite and appear quieter than usual.
In more severe cases, cattle and sheep may show weakness, lameness, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea ranging from porridge to water consistency, depending upon the severity of the condition, leading to dehydration.
Severe cases of grain poisoning can be fatal.
Reducing the animal's access to grain or pellets and increasing the availability of roughage can treat mild cases.
More severe cases may need to be drenched with sodium bicarbonate to neutralise the lactic acid.
Unfortunately, it is the case that severely affected animals are unlikely to respond well to treatment.
Following treatment, affected animals may develop hoof problems and lameness due to hoof damage caused by grain poisoning.
As with many animal health problems, the best treatment is prevention, and the key to prevention is to gradually increase the proportion of grain or pellets in the diet at a rate at which the animal's body can acclimatise.
Feeding guidelines are available in drought feeding guides for sheep and cattle, freely available from Agriculture Victoria at Home | Feeding Livestock | Agriculture Victoria
For further advice please contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria Veterinary or Animal Health Officer, or in NSW your Local Land Services.
