Extension
Connection
Extension
Connection
Blister Beetles
By Heather Benedict, Agronomist Specialist
This is Heather Benedict, Regional Agronomy Specialist. I am based out of Bethany Mo. I serve Worth, Gentry, Harrison, Mercer, Grundy, Daviess, Caldwell and Livingston Counties. I will be bringing you today’s program.
The weather has finally become beautiful for making hay. Much of the grass is past its prime for hay as it has put on seed. Alfalfa fields should also have been harvested. Second cuttings of the hay fields should be of better quality than most first cuttings this season. Hay producers that choose to put up hay for horses need to be on the lookout for blister beetles.
Blister beetles are commonly found in alfalfa fields and they contain cantharidin which is a compound that is extremely toxic to horses. Cantharidin is secreted from leg and body joints of the blister beetles and it is toxic even in dried bodies of the dead beetles. Horses are sensitive to as little as 1 mg of the toxin per kilogram body weight of the horse. Signs and symptoms of cantharidin poisoning in a horse may include blisters and ulcers in the mouth, colic, diarrhea and blood and mucous in the stool. Poisoned horses may place the muzzle in water without drinking, have an increased temperature, increased pulse and breathing rate, be dehydrated, depressed and in shock. Oral and gastrointestinal ulcerations may be observed in cattle and sheep. If cantharidin poisoning is suspected, consult a veterinarian.
The lush forages at this time of year tend to make us forget the need for pasture improvement during the rest of the year. The University of Missouri Extension will have a “Focus on Forages” day on the 30th of July. It will be held at Hundley Whaley research farm in Gentry county starting at 5:30 in the evening. Some of the topics that will be discussed are legume additions to pastures and their economic implications, hay testing and how to read a forage test, soil testing and the differences between soil labs, tall fescue management, and timed artificial insemination. The cost to attend the meeting will be $10 as supper will be provided. A drawing for a free forage test or soil test will be offered to those in attendance. If you are interested in attending this meeting, please contact Gentry county extension office at (660) 726-5610 or contact your local extension office
More information and the research on the practices I have discussed as well as on many more subjects can be found in your local extension office. So if you would like further information on this or any other topic contact your local University of Missouri Extension office. University of Missouri and Extension programs are open to all. Thank you for your time.
(Written June 22, 2009)
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Extension Connection Barb Ubben, Web Manager harrisonco@missouri.edu Last revised: 05/25/04 |