Genetically modified grass (not) blamed for mass cattle deaths in Texas

Meh. This is a good example of why you should be cautious with any science based story in the MSM.

MSM journos are NOT trained in sciences, at best they're some sort of humanities major. At one point, the major outlets actually had some sort of science adviser/consults who trimmed out the whacker parts of stories, but no longer. Now, whatever the English major who writes the thing comes up with leads.

In this case, they likely did not know what "hybrid" meant. So it comes out "genetically modified".

Also, they heard "cyanide" and it becomes "cyanide gas", because that's generally how they perceive it, without any actual understanding of what cyanide is or where it naturally occurs.

I generally hear something like this, then ignore the story details and look up some more lucid explanation of what actually happened, from a source that ought to get the facts right. CBS would not be one of those sources.

On a lighter note, here's something for you city boys to consider. If you cattle or horses get into the wrong feed, especially in the spring, and most especially if they get hold of damp spring clover (dew will do it), they will bloat. The clover (other legumes and some grain will do it too) puts off a LOT of gas when digested, the critter can't burp it out, and they blow up like big balloons and die.

When you see 'em go down in the field. there's one fix. A trocar.

You actually have this thing like a hypodermic needle the size of your thumb, and you stick the cow or horse right in the gut. Psss! out comes the gas, up comes the cow. You have to know how, or you'll just kill them on the spot. It's somewhat gruesome the first time or two.

Lots of feed issues will kill cows. There's other native grasses they'll get into with cyanogens in them. You generally try not to let that grow in your pastures but if they're range cows I don't know for sure how you stop that sort of thing.