Canterbury dairy farmers are being warned of an increased risk of nitrate poisoning to their cows.

Dairy NZ says higher soil temperatures through May are likely to have led to more nitrogen in plants.

Developer Steve Lee says farmers should get their crops tested.

“That’s kind of the first thing that they should be doing to find out what the nitrate level is in their crop immediately before they start feeding it because these things can change.”

Steve Lee says farmers should also control the rate of intake of new crops, as a fast intake of a crop with a medium level of nitrate can cause significant problems for the cows.
 

Homepage image / Holindu Abhayagunawardena

– Newstalk ZB