Grass tied to Texas cattle deaths hybrid, not GM

A cattle ranch in Elgin, Texas., where 15 head died after grazing in a field. Tests showed the grass they ingested was producing cyanide gas. / KEYE

(CBS News) The recent deaths of 15 head of cattle in Bastrop County have been linked to the grass in the field where they were grazing, which tests indicated produced cyanide gas.

The findings were first reported by CBS Station KEYE in Austin.

Federal officials are investigating whether a random mutation of the grass variety was responsible.

However, it was incorrectly reported that the grass the cows ingested - a form of Bermuda grass known as Tifton 85 - was a genetically modified organism.

In fact, Tifton 85 is a hybrid, not a GM organism.

Hybrids are plants in which horticulturalists have crossed varieties of two or more plants in order to cultivate the most desirable characteristics of each, a process which has been used by farmers for centuries.

According to the Georgia Seed Development Commission, Tifton 85 is a Bermuda grass hybrid developed in the mid-1980s as a hay grass that could withstand cold temperatures.

It was a grass which Elgin, Texas rancher Jerry Abel has used for 15 years without incident, until several of his herd died.

An official at the Department of Agriculture told CBS News that there are currently no genetically modified grasses on the market or bring grown for public use or consumption.

[Valhalla0907]

In Kentucky there were similar reports of unexplained deaths among thoroughbred horses, under identical conditions. The deaths occurred when the horses grazed new fields, after drought conditions. University of Kentucky researchers concluded that the toxic levels of cyanide/prussic acid poisoning resulted from a burgeoning infestation of caterpillar larvae, usually a minimal problem under normal weather conditions.

[Kay_Carr]

The correction to the false information on the plant identification is appreciated. Continuing to follow-up by correctly identifying the toxic principle (prussic acid) and the nature of the problem (long-documented and not at all "mysterious", much less "mass deaths") would be a good continuing step. Remedial training for all staff members in a) basic science and b) basic research would be an excellent follow-on. It's probably too late to restore public confidence in our so-called "free press" - but it's still the right thing to do.

[jlf799]

Glad this is corrected, all be it too little, too late. Now how about correcting the 'cyanide gas' statement. It was not cyanide gas being released from the grass, it is suspected, but not confirmed, to be Prussic Acid.

http://forages.tamu.edu/PDF/Nitrate.pdf

[qcislander]

Just so you know, "jlf799"...

Prussic acid is simply an alternative name for hydrogen cyanide. It's a liquid that boils and becomes a vapor (cyanide gas) a little below most mammals' body temperature. If a plant produces "prussic acid", it becomes hydrogen cyanide gas on warming after ingestion.

If'n y'all wanna talk science to folks, y'oughta do a little l'arnin' first.

[Mariah233]

"An official at the Department of Agriculture told CBS News that there are currently no genetically modified grasses on the market or bring grown for public use or consumption."

"Bring grown"? Do you people even remotely check your work?

But thanks for the correction 2 days late long after the damage was done.