In agricultural production, the safety of animal feed is directly related to the development of animal husbandry and food safety. Bovine hydrocyanic acid poisoning is a poisoning disease often encountered in rural areas, especially in the spring corn sorghum seedling period, the corn sorghum seedlings are generally used to feed pigs, cattle, chickens, sheep, etc., which can easily cause poisoning. Hydrocyanic acid and cyanide are highly toxic substances that can cause swine poisoning in even small doses. The feed and plants containing cyanogenic glycosides include sorghum seedlings, corn seedlings, potato sprouts, pumpkin vines, clover, flax leaves, flaxseed cakes, etc., especially the regenerated seedlings after corn and sorghum harvesting, which are most harmful after frost.
Feed containing cyanogenic glycosides is stacked with mold or frost wilted, and under the action of special enzymes in the plant, the cyanogenic glycosides are hydrolyzed to release hydrocyanic acid. When the feed containing cyanogenic glycosides enters the pig's body, it is easier to convert the cyanogenic glycosides into hydrocyanic acid under the action of gastric acid and be absorbed and poisoning. Hydrocyanic acid can be absorbed from the respiratory tract and skin in addition to being absorbed from the digestive tract. When a large amount of hydrocyanic acid enters the pig body, it exceeds the physiological detoxification range, and all the hydrocyanic acid cannot be excreted from the body, resulting in poisoning. Cyanogenic glycosides themselves are not toxic, and it is easier to convert cyanogenic glycosides into highly toxic hydrocyanic acid under the action of gastric acid, which can destroy the normal oxygen delivery of pig somatic cells and paralyze the respiratory movement center. This article will discuss the phenomenon of poisoning in cattle after ingestion of corn seedlings, and discuss in detail its symptoms, preventive measures, and treatment methods.
1. Symptom description: When the herd eats an excessive amount of corn seedlings, a series of clinical symptoms may appear. Hydrocyanic acid poisoning has a rapid onset and a short course of illness. Generally, poisoned cattle can show excitement and restlessness within half an hour after eating a large amount of food, opening their mouths and stretching their necks, drooling, vomiting, abdominal pain, restlessness, difficulty breathing, and bright red skin and visible mucous membranes. With the performance of depression, lying on the ground, head bent to one side, two eyes looking straight ahead, pupils dilated, weak heart activity, shallow and slow breathing, and finally screaming a few times and dying. The whole course of the disease is very short, and the heavy ones can be half an hour, and the light ones can die in a few hours. Mildly poisoned cattle showed excitement, salivation, mild diarrhea and spasms. Further progression may lead to neurological involvement, manifesting as abnormal behavior, unsteady gait, and even spasmodic seizures. In severe cases, it may cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, and eventually coma or even death. The whole course of the disease is very short, and the heavy ones can be half an hour, and the light ones can die in a few hours.
2. Prevention strategies: The importance of raising farmers' awareness of this particular toxicity so that they understand the conditions under which corn seedlings and sorghum seedlings can be harmful to livestock. Now is the season of maize and sorghum seedlings in the south, and it is necessary to limit the amount of corn seedlings and sorghum seedlings that emerge from the intermittent seedlings. Before feeding, it is soaked in water, boiled or fermented to reduce toxins. When plants containing cyanogenic glycosides are used as feed in a planned way, they are mixed with other feeds.
3. Treatment: Once the cattle are found to have only the above suspected signs of poisoning, they should be rescued immediately, first according to 1% sodium nitrite per kilogram of body weight 1 ml intravenously, it can make hemoglobin become methemoglobin, cyanide ions can be quickly combined with methemoglobin to form cyanide methemoglobin, and lose its toxic effect. Immediately after the above treatment, another 5-10% sodium thiosulfate solution is injected, 1-2 ml intravenously per kilogram of body weight. Because cyanide ions are not firmly bound to methemoglobin, a part of cyanide ions can be gradually separated, and sodium thiosulfate can be combined with these cyanide ions to form a sodium sulfate salt with little toxicity and excreted from the body. You can also take 3 grams of sodium nitrite and 15 grams of sodium thiosulfate in 200 ml of water for intravenous injection.
If the corn seedlings are ingested shortly, the residual corn seedlings in the gastrointestinal tract can be removed by vomiting or enema. Use 1/4000-1/5000 potassium permanganate solution or 3-5% baking soda or plant ash water enema twice a day, 1000-3000 ml each time, and take 500-800 ml of 1% potassium permanganate water internally. Symptomatic treatment: Drugs are given for specific conditions, and if the heart is weak, 1 gram of sodium coffee is injected once a day. Intravenous mannitol or sorbitol is given in pulmonary edema. In case of nephritis and cystitis, 2-5 grams of sodium salicylate should be taken internally. Sick cattle are closely monitored for vital signs and, if necessary, artificially assisted ventilation or other life support techniques.
In summary, poisoning caused by the accidental ingestion of corn seedlings by ruminants such as cattle is a completely preventable situation. It is important to increase the level of awareness among farmers and implement effective pasture management practices so that such situations can be avoided. In the unfortunate event of poisoning, a rapid response mechanism should also be in place, and medical treatment should be used reasonably to minimize the damage consequences. With the advancement of agricultural technology, we look forward to more solutions being developed in the future to ensure the sustainable and healthy development of the livestock industry and the safety of its products.