Home > Crops & Livestock > Livestock > Animal Health > Dairy > Poisonous Plants for Louisiana Livestock in the Fall [Image: Senna occidentalis] Images of major poisonous plants are presented to assist livestock owners with plant recognition. Toxic effects are also mentioned. Hurricane Aftermath Can Present Potential Livestock Disease Problems Cattle, goats, horses, pigs and sheep surviving Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita are vulnerable to several diseases, including infectious diseases and toxicities, according to a veterinarian with the LSU AgCenter. Photosensitization in Cattle and Horses Photosensitization, also known as photodermatitis, occurs when the liver is unable to excrete a metabolite of chlorophyll from forages the animal has eaten. The metabolite accumulates in the skin and is activated by sunlight. The reaction yields free radicals that "burn" the skin. Vaccinating Heifers Reduces Staph Mastitis Louisiana researchers tested the efficacy of a commercially available Staph. aureurs vaccine administered to heifers.  more articles... Cattle Producers Learn About National Animal Identification System [Image: Electronic Tags] Cattle producers and other industry leaders learned about a new National Animal Identification System (NAIS) during the annual LSU AgCenter’s Rosepine Research Station Field Day May 6. The system would enable farmers and government officials to quickly track and contain animal disease outbreaks by using precise identification of each animal. Weather Stations Provide Wealth of Information [Image: Data Logger] The LSU AgCenter operates 25 weather stations at research stations and other cooperating locations throughout Louisiana. The Louisiana Agriclimatic Information System privides temperature and humidity data that researchers can correlate to livestock and crop production. Each station provides minute-by-minute measurements of air temperature, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, solar radiation and soil temperature. Ration Strategies for Hot Weather One of the most difficult feeding challenges faced by dairy farmers is the drop off in feed intake and milk production during the summer. To minimize these losses, rations must be specially formulated for hot weather. Diseases of Louisiana Cattle Cattle in all beef herds are subjected to some of the common diseases. Vaccines are available that can induce some degree of protection against several of the major diseases of cattle. Watch For Cattle Emphysema In Late Summer [Image: Perilla Mint] Herd outbreaks of acute respiratory disease in cattle may occur. Causes include ingestion of perilla mint, mold damaged sweet potatoes, sudden intake of immature summer forages high in the amino acid tryptophan.