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have plenty to eat this winter,” the forestry expert said. "The Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries is already predicting a particularly good year for wildlife next year.”
In the meantime, however, livestock producers should keep a close watch on their animals. Symptoms of acorn poisoning include loss of appetite, listlessness, weakness, bowing up in the back, bloody urine, dehydration, yellow color and constipation during early illness followed by a diarrhea that may be dark colored or bloody. Affected animals get weaker and eventually go down.
“There are no specific treatments for the condition, other than rumen stimulants, such as mineral oil and fluids for the dehyrdration,” said Mr. Gerken. Treatment of animals once they go down is rarely successful, while early treatment of cases is helpful.
A preventive ration of 10 to 5 percent calcium hydroxide mixed with grain may be of some benefit if cattle cannot be separated from the oak trees. Mr. Gerken recommends about four pounds of this mix per day per cow and two pounds per day for younger animals. “This may be difficult to accomplish on some farms because the cattle will eat acorns instead of the feed,” warned the Tech specialist.
If possible, producers should remove cattle from pastures or wooded areas containing acorn-producing oak trees. According to Mr. McElfresh, acorns from trees belonging to the red oak family are usually the highest in acid content. This includes red, southern, black, northern and scarlet oak. “Acorns from white oaks, post oaks or chestnut oaks are sweeter and lower in acid content,” he said.
For more information on acorn poisoning, contact your local Extension agent.
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