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Nitrate poisoning and feeding nitrate feeds to livestock

Description

While nitrates (N03) are not very toxic to animals, nitrites (N02) are toxic. In ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats, nitrate is converted to nitrite by bacteria in the rumen. When... More ≫

Description

While nitrates (N03) are not very toxic to animals, nitrites (N02) are toxic. In ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats, nitrate is converted to nitrite by bacteria in the rumen. When ruminants consume a high nitrate feed, both nitrate and nitrite can accumulate in the rumen, and nitrate poisoning occurs when the nitrite level in the rumen exceeds the capacity of the microbes to convert it to ammonia. This fact sheet addresses some common questions about nitrate poisoning and discusses how to reduce the risk of nitrate toxicity.

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