Show tt LIVE UVE STOCK STOC I t I FACTS I IM Awes M ar ww OAK LEAF POISONING DANGER r Most Fatal Cases Occur In Spring I When There Is la a Scarcity of I Green Forage i I Pr Prepared pared by the United States Department I of or Agriculture Oak leaves If eaten continuously by cattle produce a sickness which frequently fre- fre proves fatal Investigations conducted b by specialists of the United States Department of ot Agriculture show Most oak oak leaf leaf poisoning the thc specialists say sa occurs In the spring for at that time there Is a scarcity of green rE en forage on many ranges and the craving which stock stocIe have for green Where a Small Quantity of Alfalfa Is Fed In Connection With Oak Leaves the Animals Are Not Injured food tood leads them t to eat cat the leaves in ID ex excessive amounts In order to cause causa I sickness however oak leaves must be eaten almost exclusively If eaten with other feed teed the an animals mals are not Injured It has be been n found experimentally experimentally mentally that as small a quantity as 3 pounds dally daily of alfalfa ha hay feed h In connection with oak leaves prevented poisoning Observations on the range and experimental experimental experimental ex ex- ex- ex feeding both show that some ome cattle may eat oak leaves for a along along long g time with no definite bad effects and some will even eYen eat them exclusively exclusive exclusive- ly l with no harm Generally speaking sp those that are injured show the results only after eating a considerable quantity quantity quantity quan quan- through a rather prolonged period usually from 10 16 to 35 days The specialists point out that the oaks on many runny ranges furnish a most Important element In summer feed when additional additional addi add sources of forage are available but they urge that care be exercised during the spring that cattle be not admitted to summer range at too early a date for oak leaves are well advanced adVanced advanced ad ad- before the appearance of ot the grasses |