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Test Soon For Fescue Endophyte
COLUMBIA, MO.
Livestock producers often hear there is no silver bullet for fescue toxicosis. “That is true when we are talking about common fescue,” says University of Missouri Extension forage specialist Craig Roberts. “It is toxic.” Also, management requires numerous practices such as interseeding legumes, lowering nitrogen fertilizer rates and not grazing seed heads.
“However, we do have a silver bullet,” says Roberts. “Replace old toxic fescue with novel endophyte fescue.”
Livestock problems with reproduction, weight gain, immunity, weaning weight and more disappear when cows graze on novel endophyte fescue.
Producers can learn more about this silver bullet in March at workshops held by the Alliance for Grassland Renewal in seven states in the Fescue Belt. The Missouri workshop is March 25 at the MU Southwest Research Center in Mount Vernon. Visit www.grasslandrenewal.org/education.htm for details.
The one-day schools offer help to convert Kentucky 31 tall fescue fields to novel endophyte varieties, Roberts says. Topics include livestock health and performance, grass establishment practices, soil fertility, weed control, stand maintenance and variety selection. Instructors from across the United States and from New Zealand will give hands-on training in drill calibration and conduct pasture walks to see different novel endophyte varieties.
Roberts says fescue remains a dependable ground cover and feed source for livestock. However, it is toxic half of the year, primarily late spring and fall. Toxins drop in late February and early March in Missouri, and in January through February in southern states.
“Managing fescue requires proper management of alkaloids, the toxins that cause problems,” says Roberts. The toxins affect the immune system, blood circulation and semen quality. Toxic fescue lowers weight gains, reproduction rates, weaning rates and milk production. This means poor herd health and lower profits.
Test fescue before it forms seed heads and stems, Roberts says. In Missouri, that time is from late March through April. He recommends contacting the laboratory before collecting samples. The lab will describe how to collect tiller samples and when to mail samples. All of these details are covered at the workshops.
MU Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, agribusinesses and producers sponsor the Alliance for Grassland Renewal. Download a brochure at www.grasslandrenewal.org/AGRbrochure.pdf . ∆
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