A Saskatchewan researcher is asking for help from livestock producers who suspect their animals may have died from drinking water contaminated with blue-green algae.
Erin Zoski, a water quality engineer with Agriculture Canada’s Agri- Environment Services, said the number of livestock that die from drinking water contaminated by blue-green algae each year is unknown.
“We’re trying to determine if it is a problem and the extent of the issues and the frequency and how to mitigate the risks,” said Zoski.
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Algae blooms commonly occur in August and September during calm, hot weather in lakes and dugouts that are rich in nutrients. When algae are dying, toxins are released that can kill animals.
Zoski, who has seen blue-green algae contaminated water in June and in the spring, said it depends on the nutrients in the water, sunlight and the amount of blooms.
“It all has to be perfect timing.”
Usually livestock producers notice the heavy concentrations of blue-green algae only when they find dead livestock near the water, Zoski said.
Last year, only one of the five dead animals that she examined died from this algae. The other deaths were caused by listeriosis and a heart attack.
However, she has heard of an entire bison herd and several goats dying from poisonous water.
To encourage producers to find out if their animals died from blue-green algae poisoning, money is available to producers to fund the costs of postmortem examinations. They must be conducted within 48 hours of a death.
By gathering information on deaths from blue-green algae, Zoski is hoping to build a database to help livestock producers deal with the problem.
Zoski is working with Saskatchewan producers, but could ask other Agriculture Canada staff to take samples from livestock in other provinces if producers believe there is a problem.
For more information, contact Zoski at 306-780-7248.
