Ok, some one explain the Fesue thing

Dave from MN · Jul 18, 2008

Today I discovered that my little black angus heifer, which is couple weeks younger than that red heifer, has lost the switch on her tail. A few preople have asked if I have fescue. I can only guess to say that I may have some in the pasture, but they have been out there for 2 months. It is also possible that there may be some in the hay they get. Would someone explain what the deal is with Fescue and how it could be causing my calves to be losing the ends of their tails. This is just plain driving me nutts.

kyplowboy · Jul 18, 2008

There is natural fungus that grows on/in normal fescue. It is call endophite, I know I missed spelled it but that is how you say it. It is most prevelent in the seed head and around the roots. It causes cattle to loose tail hair, have sore feet and retain placenta at birth. It causes abortion in horses. It is only a problem when the temp is over 80. You have two choices. You can mangage you pastures where the fescue stays 3" to 8" where the cattle are not eating seed heads or around the root system. Or spray with round up in the spring, no till annual warm season (millet or sudan) spray with round up again in the fall and not till in "friendly" endophite fescue (Max Q), endophite free fescue (I don't recoment, it gets infected if there is any 31 around) or some other cool season grass (orchard grass- don't hold up to graze'n like fescue.
It is not a problem in hay as you feed hay under 89 degress most of the time.
Hope this helps.

Dave

Dave from MN · Jul 18, 2008

So if it is in my round hay bales that should be ok? The pasture is under 5" tall.

kyplowboy · Jul 18, 2008

I have never seen or heard of endophite being a problem in winter fed hay.

Are your calves still have'n problems with tail hair fall'n out under 5"? Are they eating real close to the ground in some spots?

I forgot to say that dilute'n the fescue with clover helps too. Here my cattle are not eating much fescue right now and going after the crab grass and clover.

Also, from what I have seen, read, and heard in college some brama influence helps. They are more tollerant to endophite than English or Contenental breeds.

Good luck.

Dave

GordoSD · Jul 18, 2008

Google up "fescue cattle". USDA has a lot of info. Local FSA could probably give you some pamplhets. How often do you visit the ASCS local office? Tons of free info available on this topic. Don't rely on the forum for info of this nature exclusively. Go get the info from specialists who are paid 75K a year to do this.

Gordo

Kentb of SWMO · Jul 19, 2008

The endophite free fescue IS NOT a permanat pasture. You have to plant every couple of years I think. That is why you no longer here it promoted like it was 3 or four years ago. I think endophite fungus and fescue have a simbiotic relationship which helps make KY31 fescue a permnate pasture.
As a side note the fescue hadvasr finished about 2 weeks ago here in SWMO.

Kent

bison · Jul 19, 2008

i don't buy that fescue thing in a case where the tailtip breaks of,it might cause hair loss for some reason or an other but no fresh breaks.
that calf lost the tip cause either mommy stept on it ,making the calf get up and bolt or a cajute or dog got interested.

kyhayman · Jul 19, 2008

Fescue enophyte has been associated with lost tail switches but its alot more common for it to be a step on, dog grab, fence pull that fescue. In fact its a lot more common to be a copper or selenium deficiency to cause it than endophyte.

Ok, some one explain the Fesue thing

Dave from MN

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kyplowboy

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Dave from MN

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kyplowboy

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GordoSD

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Kentb of SWMO

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bison

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kyhayman

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