Blue-green algae poisoning in cattle
Reports of blue-green algae poisoning of cattle was confirmed by consulting veterinarians, at this small farm holding in Gwydir Shire, NSW.
Poisoning by blue-green algae may result in clinical signs within 30 minutes of exposure to toxic levels in water, including muscle tremors, staggering and prolonged recumbency. Hypersensitivity is also noted in some cases as is abdominal pain, diarrhoea and dyspnoea. However there is a ‘slow death factor’ syndrome recognised in which liver damage leads to jaundice and photosensitisation.
Toxicity most often occurs in summer and autumn and is more likely under drought conditions. In the case study that was the subject of the report, the blue green algae poisoning occurred in June but drought conditions were present and the temperature had been mild.
Interestingly the veterinarian report also flagged that copper sulphate is known to kill cyanobacteria: the toxins are released from the bacteria following their death from copper sulphate application and so stock should always be held off contaminated water for at least 5 days following treatment. In fact dams containing sub-lethal levels of cyanobacteria may in fact become deadly after copper sulphate treatment due to the release of toxins from dead cyanobacteria.
Needless to say this dam did not have EnviroSonic! Not only would EnviroSonic keep blue-green algae at bay, but its control of cyanobacteria cells does not cause cell death (lysis) which leads to the toxins that are so dangerous for cattle and other livestock - rather, EnviroSonic keep the cell reproduction rate under control so that blooms do not occur.
Read more here: http://www.flockandherd.net.au/cattle/reader/blue-green-algae-poisoning.html.