fbpx
Print this page
Friday, 07 June 2019 11:18

Nitrate poisoning hits Waikato herds

Written by 

DairyNZ says it is hearing of several cases of nitrate poisoning in the Waikato region, with several cow deaths.

Nitrate poisoning is caused by high nitrate levels in feed and usually occurs in late autumn or winter, particularly during a flush of growth after a dry period.

In an email to Waikato farmers, DairyNZ regional leader Waikato Wilma Foster outlined key factors to reduce of nitrate poisoning in herds.

• Test grass for nitrate levels – you can get kits from your local vet clinic. Test each break.

• Feed supplement first before feeding high nitrate feeds – this reduces the eating speed of cows.

• Feed ‘at risk’ pastures/crops in the afternoon on a sunny day – sunshine helps break down the nitrate levels, avoid these paddocks on cloudy days.

• Check the animals 1-2 hours after you put them on a new break.

• Call a veterinarian at the first signs of trouble.

More like this

DairyNZ plantain trials cut nitrate leaching by 26%

DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.

Featured

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

National

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

Machinery & Products

Leader balers arrive in NZ

Officially launched at the National Fieldays event in June, the Leader in-line conventional PRO 1900 balers are imported and distributed…

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.