COLUMBUS, Ohio — Livestock and acorns are not a good mix. An increase in this year’s fall acorn crop across the Midwest means that livestock producers with oak trees in their pastures need to be on the lookout because consumption of the nut can cause kidney failure in their animals, particularly in cattle and sheep.

Based on a survey by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife, an average of 52.3 percent of white oak trees and 67.8 percent of red oak trees at wildlife areas across the state produced acorns this year. That’s a 33 percent increase in white oak acorn production over last year, and a 31 percent increase in red oak acorn production. And the acorn influx is found in other states as well.

Lonnie Cooper has a 40-acre farm in Maryville, Tenn., where he tends to 50 head of Angus cattle. Cooper lost a baby calf two years ago when it consumed acorns, then lost a 600-pound registered bull this fall because of acorn consumption on his farm. After speaking with many extension specialists in his state, Cooper came up with a remedy for animals that took to the acorns. Cooper said his prevention method is working.

"There’s an abundance of acorns down here in Tennessee," Cooper said from his farm in the southern part of the state. "We seem to get this problem when we have dry weather. When a neighbor of mine lost some cattle as well, I decided to take action, and the remedy does work."

Cooper’s remedy involves a 50/25 mix of salt and limestone. He stresses to always add more salt than limestone in the mix. The effects of acorn poisoning are felt in Arkansas, too.

"If penning or removing cattle from the areas of existing acorns are not practical, supplementing cattle with calcium hydroxide, or hydrated lime, can be used as a preventative measure," said Shane Gadberry, associate professor of ruminant nutrition for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. "Feeding a highly palatable form at the rate of 2 to 2.5 pounds per cow of a supplement fortified with 10-15 percent calcium hydroxide is recommended. The goal is to get cows to consume around 0.4 pounds of hydrated lime per day. Molasses or vegetable oil can be added to the supplement to keep the hydrated lime from settling out of the ration and to increase palatability."

Stan Smith, Extension Educator in Fairfield County, Ohio and a beef cattle expert, suggests that producers with oak trees in their pastures should move their herd away from the dropped acorns or consider fencing off larger areas that are covered with acorns. The poisoning, he adds, can also affect sheep, rabbits, chickens, goats and horses. "While producers need to try to keep their cattle and sheep from ingesting all acorns, the green acorns seem to be the most toxic," Smith said. "Symptoms of acorn poisoning can include abdominal pain, excessive thirst, frequent urination, lack of appetite, a thin rapid pulse and rough hair coat."

Some experts suggest providing affected animals with fluid and electrolytes to keep the animal’s kidneys functioning and give the animal mineral oil, which will provide a laxative effect. "The best bet is to try to keep the animals away from the oak trees to keep them from ingesting acorns," Smith said.

Jeremy Powell, associate professor and veterinarian at University of Arkansas, says, "Oaks contain high levels of tannins. Tannic acid, while it protects trees and helps winemakers, is poisonous to cattle and sheep, but it can also cause problems in rabbits, chickens, goats and horses."

Powell said farmers can partially protect mature cows grazing on acorn-laden pastures by feeding them four pounds of the following mixture each day - cottonseed meal, whole-cottonseed or ground soybeans (40 percent); cottonseed hulls or corn (44 percent); hydrated lime (10 percent); and liquid molasses or vegetable oil (six percent). The liquid molasses, he says, is to be used with either whole cottonseed or ground soybeans.