Fact Sheet Written by:
Christopher D. Allison, Extension Range Management Specialist
And Provided by:
New Mexico State University http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs
Nitrate poisoning can result from ingesting forage or water high in nitrate content, or by inhaling nitrogen gases. Both humans and livestock can be affected. Nitrates are found in most plants and groundwater in varying amounts, but under certain conditions, nitrates can accumulate in plants and water to toxic levels. Forages with high nitrate content are sometimes used for ensilage. Under the acid conditions of the silo, denitrification of the nitrate produces nitrogen dioxide, a toxic, heavy, yellow-brown gas, which is highly toxic to humans. Such toxicity is sometimes referred to as “silo-filler’s disease.”
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