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������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������ �������������������������������������� Photo by Rob Goldsmith Fescue Grass and Mares in Foal Tall fescue grows well in North Carolina, because it is drought and overgrazing resistant, and it is a high quality nutrient source. However, once the plant produces the damaging indole alkaloid ergovaline, Endophyte infection results. When pregnant mares eat tall fescue infected with an endophyte fungus (Acremonium coenephialum), the result can be deadly. Mares that ingest endophyte-infested tall fescue can suffer from many reproductive complications (embryonic death, prolonged gestation, abortion, premature separation of the chorion, dystocia, thickened & retained placenta, and suppression of lactation). The foals born under these conditions can experience poor maturation, weakness, starvation, and poor immunity. Nitrogen fertilization increases ergovaline levels in endophyte-infected fescue. Allowing the fescue to go to seed increasing the spread of the infected plants, because it is through contamination of the seed that infection of fescue is spread. Cutting infected fescue hay during/after seed head formation guarantees the hay will be high in ergovaline and toxic. The best form of preventing fescue toxicosis in pregnant horses is not allowing them to eat endophyte infected fescue. There are drugs available (domperidone, perhenazine, and reserpine) to reduce the symptoms, but reducing ingestion is always best. I have been dealing with Clay at LTD Farm & Garden in King, NC (336-983-4331). (Be sure to �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� can get you exactly what you need) He suggests, because of the layout of my pastures, that I sow Kentucky 32. K32 is cost effective, endophyte free, and tolerates drought better. Clay suggests I sow my K32 in the fall, so it has a better chance of developing a good root base and thus a better chance for survival. 20


20075FT
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