OCR Text |
Show Cornstalk Fields May Kill Horses Rotten and Molded Ears Are Dangerous as Feed for All Live Stock. By Dr. Robert Graham. Chief in Animal Pathology and Hygiene, University of Illinois. WNU Service. Heavy death losses among horses and mules threaten the farmer who tries to save feed this winter by turning work stock out on cornstalk fields. It is true that feed supplies are the shortest on record. Unfortunately, however, it will be especially dangerous danger-ous this year to try to get horses and mules through the winter by pasturing them on stalk fields. Some of the worst corn-ear-worm damage that the state has ever had, coupled with heavy rains, has caused much rotting and molding of the ears. Reports are reaching the University of Illinois animal pathology laboratory of the widespread occurrence of a disease dis-ease resembling the old-fashioned cornstalk corn-stalk disease so prevalent about 15 years ago. The malady, however, is not caused by eating the cornstalks but by consuming the low-quality corn. Cattle also seem to be susceptible to the disease, although not so much as horses and mules. Even horses pulling pull-ing husking wagons have been known to develop the malady. Thus, farmers might well play sate by using nose baskets on the horses while they are being used in cornfields. If cornstalks are used for feed, as they must be on many farms, hogs and cattle can be pastured in stalk fields with less danger than any other farm animals. Even then, the cattle should be pastured only a part of each day and thoroughly inspected each night for possible symptoms of the disease. When feeding the Jow-quality corn, farmers should hand-select the ears for horses, mules and cattle. The first symptoms of the disease are likely to be nervousness, sluggishness sluggish-ness or sleepiness on the part of the horse, although the symptoms are not easily detected without careful observation. observa-tion. When these mild symptoms do appear, however, a veterinarian should be called immediately, for only by prompt treatment in the early stages of the disease can the affected animals be saved. As the disease develops, the horses begin to walk in circles, stagger and press against their mangers or fences. These symptoms indicate a brain disturbance that is much easier to prevent than to cure. This disease should not be confused with hydrocyanic acid poisoning which some farmers feared might develop from feeding drouth-damaged cornstalks, corn-stalks, or from feeding frosted millet, sorghum or sudan grass. |