EBENSBURG - Nitrate
provides plants with essential
nitrogen, but excess nitrate can
convert to toxic substances in the
digestive systems of human in
fants and some livestock.
The effects of nitrate on families
and livestock is the topic of a new
publication by The Pennsylvania
State University Cooperative
Extension Service. Special Cir-
Meat
imports
trigger restrictions
to
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
Secretary of Agriculture John
Block today said the third quar
terly estimate of U.S. meat im
ports for 1985 is below the level that
would require quotas on imports
under the Meat Import Act of 1979.
Block said that, based on USDA
estimates of available supplies,
imports of beet and certain other
meats should be no more than 1,180
million pounds - about 139 million
pounds below the 1985 trigger level
of 1,319 million pounds.
Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total
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Nitrate circular describes hazards to humans, livestock
cular 308 explains how excess
nitrate can leach into groundwater
supplies and contaminate wells.
Human babies are extremely
susceptible to acute nitrate
poisoning. Certain bacteria,
present in their digestive systems
at birth, change the nitrate into
toxic nitrite. The nitrite reacts
with hemoglobin to form
methemoglobin, which does not
not expected
The Meat Import Act requires
the President to restrict imports of
certain meats, primarily b6ef and
veal, if the USDA estimate equals
or exceeds the trigger level.
“Based on today’s estimate,
there is no need to impose import
restrictions during the quarter
beginning July 1,” Block said.
“Our analysis of conditions in this
country and abroad affecting meat
imports strongly suggests there
will be no need for import
restrictions for the remainder of
the year.”
Imports of meat subject to the law
1982 1983 1984
Million Pounds
55.5 92.2 87.0
67.5 124.3 109.2
127.9 127.0 84.9
119.2 106.5 82.3
86.0 92.8 89.0
160.6 143.2 64.9
99.2 113.1 107.0
133.8 124.1 100.4
237.4 110.3 103.2
126.6 77.8 132.7
33.9 74.6 87.4
71.7 54.1 93.4
1,319.6 1240.1 1,141.4
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carry oxygen. As the level of'
oxygen throughout the body
decreases, the baby is suffocated,
a condition known as
methemoglobinemia.
Around the age of three months,
the baby has an increased amount
of hydrocholoric acid in the
stomach which kills most of the
bacteria. At six months of age, the
digestive system is fully
developed, and none of the nitrate
converting bacteria remain. In
older children and adults, nitrate is
absorbed and excreted; therefore,
Wolf teeth can cause problems
EBENSBURG - Not all horses
have wolf teeth, and not all those
that do have them are bothered by
them. Yet wolf teeth can cause
irritation and pain in a horse’s
mouth and may require veterinary
attention.
Wolf teeth are a remnant from
the horse’s evolutionary past, but
no longer serve any useful pur
pose, says Dr. Larry Hutchinson,
professor of veterinary science
extension at The Pennsylvania
State University. As a result,
removal of wolf teeth usually cures
any problems they may cause.
“Horses have incisors at the
front of their mouth, then a gap
where no teeth exist, and finally a
set of cheek teeth at the back of
their mouth to grind their feed,”
Hutchinson says. “The wolf teeth,
when they occur, grow just in front
of the first cheek teeth.”
1985
59.3
87.0
87.0
94.6
122.7
According to Hutchinson, wolf
teeth may sometimes be as large
as the horse’s cheek teeth. Most
often, however, they are small.
The small wolf teeth may cause
problems, especially if there is a
gap between them and the cheek
teeth.
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Lancaster Farming Saturday, July 20,1985-05
methemoglobinemia is no longer a
concern.
Ruminant animals such as sheep
and cattle and infant monogastrics
such as chickens and pigs also
have nitrate-coverting bacteria in
their digestive systems. All are
affected by nitrate poisoning in the
same way. Although horses are
monogastrics, they have a cecum
similar to the rumen which houses
nitrate-converting bacteria and
-puts horses at risk of nitrate
poisoning, too.
Livestock are exposed to nitrate
in feed r - .' 1 »'9ter. To protect
“When there is separation
between the cheek teeth and wolf
teeth, the horse may show
resentment toward the bit,
possibly because the bit puts
pressure on the wolf teeth and
pinches or irritates the gum bet
ween the wolf and cheek teeth,”
Hutchinson says.
Signs of wolf teeth problems
include head throwing when
bridled, abnormal head carriage,
bit chomping and production of
excessive amounts of saliva when
bridled. Sometimes horse owners
misinterpret these signs and
assume the horse has back
problems. In either case, a
veterinarian can help.
“Unless they’re very large, wolf
teeth are generally easy to
remove,” Hutchinson says, “If it’s
done right, many horses don’t even
need an anesthetic, and there is
very little bleeding afterwards.
The wounds heal themselves, and
the horse needs 10 days with rest or
without a bit but otherwise can be
fed and handled as usual.”
Pulling the teeth is best left to a
veterinarian because a large ar
tery runs through the mouth very
mos mm
ft§&\
livestock, both feed and water
should be tested for nitrates. If
nitrate poisoning is diagnoised
early, both human infants and
animals can be treated and most
will recover completely.
The circular also explains how
much nitrate is dangerous. In
formation is given on testing water
for nitrate contamination,
purifying and protecting the water
supply and applying nitrogen
properly.
Special Circular 308 is available
from your county Extension office.
in horses
near the teeth. This artery could be
damaged if the wrong procedure is
used to remove the wolf teeth.
Also, if the wolf teeth are broken
off rather than completely
removed, they will continue to
irritate the horse and cause
problems.
Many veterinarians will look for
wolf teeth during routine dental
examinations of horses. At that
time they also look for other dental
problems such as teeth that are
wearing unevenly.
Any time horse owners notice a
horse losing weight, dropping food
from the mouth while chewing,
having swellings along the nose or
under the jaw, or producing a
nasal discharge, the horse could
have dental disease. Similarly,
resentment of the bit when the
horse is ridden may indicate oral
pain. For all of these situations,
seek professional help.
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