WOOSTER, Ohio A little black
bug could mean death to your horses
or cattle, and that bug is often present
in the alfalfa Held.
Ohio State University Extension’s
Bill Lyon says there is increasing con
cern over blister beetles in Ohio hay
and the risks to livestock especially
horses.
Blister beetles are more common in
Southern states, but recent reports of
the toxic bug have been made in
Michigan, Kentucky and southern
Ohio.
“Blister beetles feed on the flower
of blooming alfalfa plants,” Lyon
said. “They threaten third and fourth
cutting alfalfa hay. They usually
appear in late August and September.”
Adult blister beetles have long, nar
row bodies, usually ranging from .5 to
1.5 inches long. Several Ohio species
have different color patterns most
common is the black blister beetle.
The beetles emerge in late May and
reach peak populations in late August.
The adults lay eggs, and larvae deve
lop in the soil, feeding on grasshopper
eggs and blooms on plants.
“Increasing grasshopper popula
tions have made blister beetles more
common in this area,” Lyon said.
Horses are consid
ered most susceptible
to blister beetles,
although both cattle
and sheep have been
affected. “Blister bee
tles contain a natural
toxin called canthari
din that can kill lives
tock. Cantharidin has
toxicity comparable
to strychnine or
cyanide.”
It takes about SO
beetles to kill a
550-pound horse.
“It’s important to
know the quality of
the hay you’re feed
ing,” he said. “The
lethal dosage of
cantharidin in a horse
is one milligram
cantharidin per kilo
gram of horse body
weight.”
The toxic beetle is
often harvested along
with the alfalfa.
Depending on the
type of mower or win
drower, large num
bers of beetles may be
crushed during
harvest and trapped in
bales. The beetles
continue to be toxic
even after death.
“You really need to
avoid clumps of bister
beetles,” Lyon said.
“If you notice the
black clumps when
mowing hay, stop the
tractor, get down, and
disperse the beetles.”
When a horse
ingests a toxic num
ber of blister beetles
dead or alive it
often dies within 72
hours. Specific symp
toms include colic,
straining, increased
temperature, depress-
Could A Killer Be Hiding In Your Hay?
Form Safely
M
4 Just Kids
Puerto the
establishment of
Farm Satety 4 Just
Kids, a study by the
Harboiview Injuiy
Prevention and
Rcseaich Center
estimated that 300
childien and adoles-
cents were dying
each year from farm
injuries, and that
anothei 23,300 were
suffering nontatal
trauma An update of
that study now
indicates that the
I arm latahly rate
lor childien and ado
lescents has declined
by 39 percent
With the help ol Cargill
Hybrid Seeds and othei ,
coiporate sponsors.
Farm Safety 4 Just
Kids is celebrating its
10th yearol advocating
the prevention of I arm
related childhood
iii|uiies. health nsks
and fatalities Through
educational programs
and a large network ol
grassroots volunteers
thiv nonprofit organiza
tion is leading the
way to a safer futuie
lot the children ol
today's I aiming
communities
Hot more information
about Faint Safety
4 Just Kids, call j
l-«(X)-42V5447
O CARGILL '
Hybrid Seeds
ion, increased heart and respiratory
rates, dehydration, sweating and diar
rhea. There is frequent urination,
especially after the first 24 hours.
Lyon said farmers can take basic
management practices and precau
tions against blister beetles. “Since
blister beetles don’t usually build up
in large numbers until August, hay
from the first cutting should be set
aside for horse feed,” he said. “Crimp
Here Are Some Fall Grazing
Grace Truman
Extension Specialist
West Virginia University
Extension Service
Beef producers can delay using
harvested feeds by using stockpiled
fescue and crop residues in the early
part of the winter feeding program.
If you’re stockpiling fescue, don’t
let cattle graze it until late fall or early
winter. Chemical changes inside the
fescue plant make the grass more
desirable and more nutritious at that
time.
Tips For Beef Producers
IT TO A SEED COMPANY
LEAVE
TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE
YOUR MILK PRODUCTION GROW.
A year ago, we introduced Full Time™ forage. A
remarkable new feedstuff that can dramatically
boost a herd's milk production. Now, a year later,
university trials show that feeding Full Time to top
producers on a high-fiber diet can increase their
already high production levels by as much as 10%
So, if you're feeding a high-fiber ration, consider
Full Time. Nothing can match its digestibility, forage
quality or increased milk production No wonder we
say it's the biggest thing to hit dairy since automa-
tion. To leam more about Full Time or any of our other
forage quality products, see your nearest Cargill
dealer or visit our Web site, www.cargill.com/seed
i 'Cargill Incorporated 1997 All pioducls subject In Cargill s limitation of warranty and remedy
Foraging Around, Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 1, 1997—Page
ing and conditioning hay crushes and
retains beetles that would otherwise
move out of the swathed hay before
baling. Harvest alfalfa in bud and very
early bloom stage.”
Lyon also said that since beetles are
found in clusters or clumps, they may
swarm in front of the harvester.
“Allow the beetles to disperse or move
to another section of the field for
awhile. Carbaryl (Sevin) can also be
used to spot treat alfalfa within one
While you’re stockpiling fescue,
you can let cattle graze crop residues.
They should start grazing residues as
soon as possible after harvesting. Com
stalks, milo stubble and soybean
stubble make an acceptable feed for
dry, pregnant cows. Provide other
feeds to younger cattle being grazed
for gams above the maintenance level.
Using temporary electric fencing
will help with crop residue feeding.
Allow the cattle onto only a limited
area of the field at a time. If you pro
vide free access, the animals will glean
<3 CARGILL
Hybrid Seeds
day of harvest, although it’s best not to
use pesticides unless a severe infesta
tion occurs,” Lyon said.
“Blister beetles aren’t a huge prob
lem, but farmers should keep in mind
the dangers they may cause. The best
thing to do is just be aware of the
problem.”
For more information on blister
beetle toxicity, contact Bill Lyon,
Ohio State University Extension Ento
mology, (6514) 292-5274.
the highest-quality feed in the first few
days. The remaining residue will be of
low quality and won’t meet the ani
mals’ nutritional requirements.
Strip grazing will provide a more
even-quality feed and will keep the
animals from trampling as much feed.
Keep in mind that the quality of
residue declines very rapidly, especial
ly in rainy weather. So let animals
graze the residues as soon as possible
after harvest.
For more information on feeding
beef cattle, contact your county exten
sion service.
201