Toxic Contaminates in Horse Hay and Feed

TOXIC CONTAMINATES IN HORSE FEED & HAY An infographic presented by: HorseDVM 1 Blister beetles Blister beetles are beetles that contain varying amounts of the toxin, cantharidin. There are over 7,500 species of blister beetles worldwide, ranging from black or gray to brightly-colored with spots and stripes. They often congregate in large swarms in alfalfa hay, which if consumed by horses, can be lethal--whether they are alive or dead. Recently, 6 horses died in North Carolina from consuming blister beetle infested alfalfa hay that was grown in Kansas. Ways to reduce risk of poisoning Purchase first cutting alfalfa hay that was harvested before May or after September. Buy alfalfa hay from a reputable local dealer or 1 grower Avoid buying alfalfa that has been harvested using crimper rollers. The process of hay crimping before baling results in the crushing of any blister beetles that may be present in the hay. Inspect each flake of alfalfa hay for blister 4 beetles before feeding it to horses. Do not feed infested material to horses, regardless of how long the hay has been stored. Toxic weeds Hay can often be contaminated with toxic weeds that can cause chronic and acute forms of toxicosis in horses. Many weeds commonly found in have can cause liver failure in horses after prolonged consumption. Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale Hoary asslyum Berteroa incana Ragwort Seneico jacobea Summer Pheasant's Eye Adonis aestivalis Rattlebox Crotalaria spp Commonly found weeds Caley pea Lathyrus hirsutus Nightshades Solanum spp Milkweed Asclepias spp Common groundsel Seneico vulgaris Муcotoxins 4 lonophore antibiotics Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by lonophore antibiotics (monensin, lasalocid, fungi which contaminate forages and cereals that are salinomicin) are common additives to poultry feed, frequently used for horse feed, hayage, and pasture that are highly toxic to horses. Mixing errors at feed grasses. Mycotoxins can develop pre-harvest or mills and accidental ingestion of poultry feed are the post-harvest, during transport, processing, storage or most common causes of poisoning cases in horses. In feeding. Environmental conditions, moisture content, and 2014, monenesin-contaminated feed affected 44 horses insect damage are the major contributing factors to the located at two seperate barns, in Florida and South growth of mycotoxins in horse feed and hay. Carolina, resulting in the death of 25 horses. Dead or decaying matter 6 Cyanide Hay contaning decaying Hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) is a toxin which can animals and vegetation can accumulate in plants during certain weather cause botulism in horses. It stressing events (drought, frost, flooding, hail), occurs through trambling, cutting, and herbicide treatment. contamination with the Sometimes certain grasses that are occassionally used Clostridium botulinum toxin, as hay can increase in toxicity, such as Johnsongrass, many times found in round Sudan grass, Sorghum spp, and Reed Canary Grass. bale hay. References T. Buckley, A. Creighton, U. Fogarty. Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, Analysis of Canadian and Irish forage, oats and commercially available equine concentrate feed for pathogenic fungi and mycotoxins. Irish Veterinary Journal Volume 60 Number 4. 2007. Asim Kart and Ali Bilgili. lonophore Antibiotics: Toxicity, Mode of Action and Neurotoxic Aspect of Carboxylic lonophores. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 7:748-751. 2008. TM http://www.ncagr.gov http://www.thestate.com/living/pets/article13931330.html HorseDVM