# Wilted Summer Fodder Is Quietly Killing Cattle — How 'Cyanoside' Builds Up in Jowar and Bajra, and How to Stop It

> Severe heat and water shortage cause a toxic compound called cyanoside to build up in shrivelled jowar and bajra fodder, which can kill dairy animals. Agriculture experts explain how regular irrigation and careful checking of the crop can prevent the danger.

**Category:** Uttar Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-06-13 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/uttar-pradesh/garmi-men-sukhata-chara-bana-raha-pashuon-ka-kala-jvara-bajare-men-panapa-raha-j-415

The moment summer sets in, dairy farmers face the constant challenge of arranging green fodder, which is why so many of them sow jowar and bajra on a large scale. But in the fields of Shahjahanpur, a hidden danger is taking the lives of livestock — and the most worrying part is that most farmers fail to recognise it at all.

When the scorching heat and dry winds leave these crops short of water, their leaves begin to curl and the plants start drying up. Many cattle owners brush this off as an ordinary seasonal change, and that single oversight can prove fatal. According to experts, it is precisely under these conditions that a harmful chemical forms inside the fodder — and animals that eat it can fall seriously ill or even die.

## How This Slow Poison Forms
Senior agriculture expert Dr. N.P. Gupta explains that when temperatures climb very high and there is no rain for a long stretch, jowar and bajra plants suffer an acute water shortage. Deprived of water, the plants shrink their leaves to protect themselves, and this stressed state triggers a chemical imbalance inside their cells.

The result of that imbalance is a toxic substance known as cyanoside (Cyanoside), whose level rises dangerously in the wilted plants. Farmers usually assume the crop is merely scorched by the sun, when in reality the fodder has already turned into a slow poison for their animals.

## What It Does Inside the Animal's Body
Dr. Gupta says that if cattle owners feed this dried or shrivelled fodder to their animals, it strikes directly at their health. Once it reaches the stomach, cyanoside can convert into a cyanide-like toxic gas that attacks the animal's nervous system and respiratory system.

The effect is so rapid that the animal starts struggling to breathe, foam begins to come from its mouth, and it writhes in distress. Often the owner cannot even understand how an animal that looked perfectly healthy moments earlier deteriorated so badly so quickly — and within no time the animal dies. A major reason behind these deaths is the failure to get treatment in time.

## The Simplest Safeguard — Irrigate on Time
Experts point out that the easiest and most effective way to tackle this threat is to water the fields on time. Crops should never be left dry for too long during summer. Jowar and bajra should be given light irrigation at intervals of every 7 to 10 days.

Regular watering keeps the plants moist, which means cyanoside never gets a chance to form and the fodder stays completely safe for the animals.

## Check the Crop Before You Cut It
Cattle owners are advised to inspect the plants closely while cutting fodder. If any part of the crop shows curled, yellow or dried leaves, that fodder should not be placed before the animals. It is better to first irrigate the field thoroughly and harvest only once the plants look green and normal again.

With a little awareness and a few scientific practices, farmers can not only shield their livestock from this serious danger but also prevent any drop in milk production.

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