There are many questions regarding the safety of feeding cull onions to cattle. Listed below are some of the pros and cons of this byproduct feedstuff. Onion culls are a source of disulfide compounds that can cause anaemia. Additionally, these onions attract the onion maggot fly. As a result, feeding cull onions to cattle is a risky proposition. Therefore, it is best to leave them off cattle’s diet entirely.
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Cull onions are an alternative byproduct feedstuff
There have been concerns about using cull onions as a feedstuff for cattle. While the product is generally considered safe, there are a few limitations. The primary limitation is the cost of transportation. Since cull onions are mostly water, the percentage of dry matter must be a practical value to feed to cattle. A 119-day feeding study showed the impact of increasing the amount of onion in the ration of 36 calves, weighing up to 529 pounds. The researchers reported positive effects on average daily gain and feed intake.
Onions are highly palatable to cattle, but they have a potentially harmful disease called onion poisoning. When fed to beef cattle, cull onions can cause acute and potentially fatal onion poisoning, a disease known as beef toxicosis. Beef cattle will show symptoms of onion poisoning, including yellow eyes, lack of appetite, increased heart rate, and diarrhea. In a recent case, a cattle producer delivered a ton of cull onions to pasture for five days. After five days, 22 calves showed symptoms of beef toxicosis and one of them died.
They are a source of disulfide compounds
The Allium genus is a group of plants with important medicinal properties. Onions are primarily water, but contain fiber, alk(en)yl cystein sulfoxides, and flavonoids. The fiber imparts many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Organosulfur compounds are created when onions undergo oxidative metabolism in the liver, converting from Fe2+ to Fe3+, transforming hemoglobin into methemoglobin.
Cull onions can be fed to cattle, and producers may do so if they are inexpensive and safe to transport. However, feeding cull onions to cattle at high levels can impair animal performance. Observation of any changes in behavior may be a good way to determine if an animal is being poisoned. Clinical signs of onion poisoning include tachycardia, tachypnea, and reduced rumen motility.
They can cause anaemia
Onions have a very toxic principle known as N-Propyl disulfide. This substance breaks down red blood cells in the animal’s body. Symptoms of anaemia are weakness, inappetence, rapid breathing, pale mucous membranes, and onion breath. If you feed cows onions, you’ll probably need to worry about secondary kidney failure. A diet containing more than 25 percent onion dry matter can cause a serious case of anemia. If the anemia is severe enough, a whole blood transfusion is required.
Although onions are generally safe for other animals, they are not safe for cows. Beetles, rabbits, groundhogs, and deers are all safe to feed onions to. Onions, however, are poisonous to dogs, horses, and cows. Cows, also called bulls, calves, or oxen, should never be fed onions. However, onions can be dangerous to humans, so it is recommended that you limit the amount of onions you give cows.
They attract an onion maggot fly
The onion fly is a common pest on onions. Its larvae feed on onion roots and bulbs and can also infest garlic and shallot. Onions grow slowly, and the insect larvae burrow into the onion bulb tissue to feed on decaying material. Onions are often susceptible to disease if they grow too small. The best way to prevent onion maggots is to plant resistant varieties and avoid growing onions in poor soil.
Onion maggots are small, gray flies that are attracted to the roots of onions. Their eggs are laid near developing onions or seedlings. These insects prefer non-decomposed organic matter in the soil, so they feed on the roots, growing bulbs, and seedlings. Onions, broccoli, and cabbage are also vulnerable to onion maggots, which are also a pest of these plants.
