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  Discussion on Cheat grass
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 23, 2002 - 10:51 am:

Dr.O,
My friends horse died last night from haveing an infection in the mouth and esophaqus from eating cheat grass that was in the hay she had just bought. It was unfortunate because she was gone out of town for the week and the person feeding did not see the signs, the hay she bought was from a hay grower who has been around for a long time Maria has bought from him many times so she did not have any reason to check her hay. I have looked for information on cheat grass and I'm guessing it is described under another name in pastures or i'm spelling it wrong. Can you comment on this or lead me where to look.
Thank you,
Judy

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 24, 2002 - 7:02 am:

Hello Judy,
I cannot find anything in the literature about this as a disease in horses or even cattle or small ruminants.

"Cheat grass" in one article is referred to as Hordeum pusillium which is also called "little barley" has been a cause of pulmonary disease in children who have inhaled the inflorescences (flowering or seeding parts). But as to a cause of disease in horses and livestock, I have drawn a blank. The seed heads do seem to resemble those of what we call locally "foxtails" (Setaria sp.)where the awns from the seed heads can become lodged in the mucosa of the mouth.

I wonder if your friends "cheat grass" is our "foxtail"? Run a search on foxtail for other discussions on this.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 24, 2002 - 3:08 pm:

Wow, I'm sorry to hear about your friend's horse, what a shame!

There are lots mentions online at websites and in Google newsgroup threads of "cheat grass". Other names online include: "downy brome", "Japanese brome", and "bromus tectorum". One talks about it invading alfalfa hay; others talk about it as an invasive grass out west that browns come June and is the cause of brush fires which then kill off its competitors; still others speak to the dangers of running hunting dogs through cheat grass (same danger as foxtails); one more that lists plants that are toxic to horses cites cheat grass among the "longbearded grasses" as a "mechanical injury" threat (causing ulcers and sores in the mouth and throat). Anyhow, bromus tectorum might be the latin name you're looking for.

M

Posted on Thursday, Jul 25, 2002 - 2:51 am:

DrO,
I should have explained my self better, Maria's horse died because his windpipe was swollen shut at the throat and at the chest. The altopsie showed cheat grass was present in the esophagus and infection had set in. The esophagus was perferated from the cheat grass.
Cheat grass is different than foxtails but I'm guessing it is in the family. I have found its name (Bromus tectorum also called downy chess, downy brome, or June grass). In the green state both foxtails and cheat grass are a good nutritious feed.
I guess this was just a fluke, but it can happen and we need to be aware of it.
Judy

Posted on Thursday, Jul 25, 2002 - 2:58 am:

Melissa,
Thank you for your information. I guess we found the same reference.
Judy

Posted on Thursday, Jul 25, 2002 - 7:08 am:

Thanks for the further references Melissa. Running a search on Bromus tectorum in the medical and veterinary literature and came up blank again as a disease causing agent. We have a local weed we call bromegrass that behaves in the way Melissa describes and though common have not seen horses with problems from it, however there are quit a few species of Bromus, maybe we do not have the bad actor. I do see problems (and is reported in the medical literature) with the foxtails. Locally where you find brome you often find foxtail as both represent weeds that take advantage of pasture that is sparse and infrequently mowed.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 25, 2002 - 9:18 am:

Judy,
Several of the online articles re cheat grass speak to the danger of the mature grass once it forms seed heads. Is the cheat grass in your area something usually considered safe to feed once it's formed these?
M

Posted on Thursday, Jul 25, 2002 - 12:19 pm:

Melissa,
It is not safe to feed cheat grass after the heads have formed, although horses do feed on it.
The hay grower said he knew it was there but, thought it was still green enough to cut and make into hay and it would be safe. I hear he is very upset about this horse.
Judy

Posted on Thursday, Jul 25, 2002 - 5:45 pm:

Hello Melissa,
And here we have the problem with common names: one man's cheat grass is another man's bromegrass is another man's little barley. I have now seen three different plants (with differnt scientific names and pictures) referred to as cheatweed. Are we all talking about the same plant?

Bromegrass (or bromestraw because it turns brown early) is not considered mechanically harmful, just lacks nutrients and is not very palatable. Horses carefully leave it behind until there is nothing else to eat. The seed heads of our plant are very soft and fluffy and though I could imagine choking on them they are not sharp and barbed like the fox tail awns (though fox tail seed heads are soft to the touch).
DrO
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