Cyanide Poisoning

Under certain conditions, livestock consuming cyanogenic plants, which are plants capable of producing cyanide, may be poisoned by cyanide. Cyanogenic plants that pose a risk of cyanide poisoning to livestock include forage sorghum, Johnson grass, sudangrass, chokecherry, and arrowgrass.

Exposure to excessive cyanide -- also called prussic acid, hydrocyanic acid, or hydrogen cyanide -- can be fatal. However, producers can reduce the risk of cyanide poisoning using good management practices.