Two experiments were conducted to investigate
whether level or source of energy and
protein supplementation would reduce the
incidence or severity of clinical toxicity in
cattle fed forages high in nitrate (NO3).
Heavily fertilized sudan hay with 40,000 to
50,000 ppm NO3 was fed in both experiments.
The percentage of total blood hemoglobin
converted to methemoglobin by nitrate was
used to compare treatment effectiveness.
Energy supplementation at levels tested in
Exp. 1 had no effect on methemoglobin concentration.
In Exp. 2, all protein sources
(wheat midds, urea, soybean meal) reduced
the maximum methemoglobin levels and
increased the rate of reconversion to normal
hemoglobin.
