What are the most important risk factors that can lead to oak toxicity?
The presence of large numbers of acorns when forage is scarce is one of the main risks. Wind, hail, or snowstorms can cause large number of acorns or limbs from oak trees to drop so that cattle can gain easy access. California outbreaks have been worse in the late winter and early spring when oak buds and small leaves are present in large numbers and a wet snowstorm occurs. The wet snow breaks branches and limbs and the snow also covers the available grass and leaves the cattle very hungry. This leads to consumption of these very toxic buds and leaves because it is the only feed available. What is the acorn calf syndrome? The acorn calf syndrome is completely different from the typical oak toxicity problems seen in cattle. Acorn calves are congenitally malformed calves born to cows that have ingested large numbers of acorns under very poor forage conditions during the second trimester of pregnancy (3-7 months of pregnancy). The cause appears to be a combination of poor nutrition and ex
