Animal feed news

Urea poisoning killed Mexican cattle

Urea poisoning killed Mexican cattle

//13 Feb 2012
The Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (SAGARPA) has confirmed that the death of 600 head of cattle in Actopan was caused by urea poisoning through poultry manure.
Poultry manure contains large amounts of urea, which is transformed into ammonia inside the stomach of the animal and generates amino acids or proteins, substances that cause excessive intoxication.
 
The delegate of SAGARPA, José Vicente Ramirez Martinez, said the death of 600 cows in the municipality of Actopan was caused by poisoning by consumption of a cheap food of bad quality called ‘pollinaza’ (manure), which the stock ranchers gave to their livestock without realising the consequences.
 
“After conducting a study of dead animals, it was discovered that cause of death was the consumption in excessive quantities of a feed comprising a cheap and shoddy chicken litter which poisoned the animals that died,” he said.
 
“The results showed traces of urea, which involves a pattern of intoxication, however, independently of this we are awaiting the outcome [of the investigation] of the manure," explained the federal official.
Rating:
Click here to register for the free AllAboutFeed newsletter

 

Comments (5)

1.
It is a sorrow to hear this bad news from The Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (SAGARPA).I am woundering why they put the poultry manure in the diet of feeding cattle.I am advising them to start a bioconversion of agricultural byproducts and enrich its proten content.I am willing to cooperate with SAGARPA in this new approach.
Dr.Mohamed Fathy Salem at 13-02-2012 18:13
2.
The article states "Poultry manure contains large amounts of urea, which is transformed into ammonia inside the stomach of the animal and generates amino acids or proteins, substances that cause excessive intoxication."

If the ammonia were transferred to amino acids (by the rumen microorganisms)there would be no problem. The problem developed because the ammonia crossed the rumen wall and created problems that killed the animal. By drenching with a liter of vinegar, the ammonia (NH3) would be changed to ammonium (NH4)and ammonium cannot cross the rumen wall. I have done it (in Mexico) and saved the animal.
Roy Chapin at 13-02-2012 19:33
3.
This conclusion should be read with some reserve: poultry excrete uric acid, not urea; amino acids and protein synthesised in the rumen by micro-organism are not toxic substances to ruminants.
Ad van Vuuren at 14-02-2012 15:20
4.
It seems impossible if some one can add urea directly into poultry litter as it is also very dangerous for his birds. May be they would have added urea with this litter while making feed and that increased the dose of total nitrogen that became lethal to the cattle.
Dr Ali Ahmed at 20-02-2012 08:30
5.
Feeding poultry manure to cattle is banned in Queensland due to past outbreaks of botulism.
Sandra Baxendell at 26-02-2012 23:31
Animal feed news Free e-newsletter Weblogs Animal feed events Photos Videos
 
Dick Ziggers - editor of AllAboutFeedFollow Dick Ziggers on twitter
... learn the story behind AllAboutFeed
Created by: Twitter for Web

JOIN IN - latest discussions

  • Are we sure about this?
    Thomas Hartsock wrote : It has always been our position that Blood Meal is better utilized than for feeding maggots. We use chicken litter. Unfortunately, Gates Foundation Funded the... @ 20-05-2012 (19:23)
  • Are we sure about this?
    Suzi Dominy wrote : Very well said. A pleasure to read such a sensible commentary. Biofuel by-products are of course hot contenders these days. Hopefully some of these will turn... @ 17-05-2012 (00:20)
  • Feed sources looked at in BSE investigation
    F�lix Mart�n wrote : In Europe he had the same problem doubt to include MBM (meat and bone meal) (official version). From 1997 until today feeds for ruminants are only made from... @ 04-05-2012 (10:22)