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A bumper crop of Virginia acorns is causing trouble for the state’s livestock producers, but is sure to help wildlife populations and, ultimately, Virginia game hunters, Virginia Tech Extension specialists reported.
“We’ve already had several head of cattle to die from acorn poisoning in Bedford County,” said H. John Gerken, Extension animal scientist. "Producers should take extra precautions to prevent their livestock from eating'these nuts.”
While cattle are most often involved, sheep and goats also can sicken and die from eating the fruit of the oak tree. Acorns contain tannic acid, a toxin which causes severe damage to the kidneys and liver.
Acorn poisoning usually occurs in the fall when the nuts have dropped to the ground and are consumed by livestock on pasture or by animals who have access to wooded areas. “There seems to be a wide variation of acorn toxicity in a given area,” Mr. Gerken said. Changes in climatic conditions, habitat and nutrition of susceptible animals may influence the incidence of poisoning.
An exceptionally large acorn crop is being reported throughout most of the state this year. William A. McElfresh, Extension forestry specialist, attributed the increase to “a combination of good years and the right weather conditions.”
The extreme drought that much of the state experienced in 1986 also had some effect. “Anytime a tree is heavily-stressed, it begins to produce a good seed crop,” Mr. McElfresh explained. “The scattered August rains also helped give the acorns some good size at the last minute.”
While the overabundance of acorns is creating problems for livestock producers, it will actually benefit Virginia’s wild game hunters. “Deer, turkey and squirrels will
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