Dallis grass

[branguscowgirl]

Hi everyone! I posted on the Grass board but thought I would come here also to cover my basis. :help: My irrigated pastures are full of Dallis grass with the dreaded fungus. (In the past I mowed them prior to seeding.) Unaware of the danger, I let it grow too long.
My question is, should I mow it now? Or leave it? My thoughts are the horses and cattle will eat it when it is mulched up after mowing. (Raking would be pretty tuff.) Any advice would be helpful! Thank you!

 

[Lucky_P]

Seeing lots of dallisgrass in my pastures here this year, as well, but I'm not seeing any ergot growth on the seedheads. I'd been kind of looking around for some seed - it can be a desirable warm-season forage species - but since it's appeared on its own, I won't continue that search.
I'd think that if you clipped high enough just to knock off the seedheads, the cows/horses are not gonna actively search 'em out.

 

[branguscowgirl]

I was kind of thinking that also. However, they graze in between the dallis grass to get the tender short grass below. Which worries me that they will pick it up then. Kind of worrisome.....but I think that I will need to cut it.
Thank you for your thoughts on it. Anyone else have an idea??

 

[Bigfoot]

I didn't know dallisgrass could be harmful. Oddly, I just noticed this year that I have some.

 

[branguscowgirl]

Bigfoot, it is only if the seed heads are infected with the ergot fungus. It causes "Dallisgrass Staggers." When ingested, one form affects the central nervous system in all livestock. Another form can cause gangrene from loss of circulation to the hooves, ears and tail. Either way, bad toxin!

 

[Lucky_P]

Bigfoot,
I've been eying some big patches of it on the side of the highway for a year or two, thinking, "Hmm. Sure wish I could nab some of those seedheads" - but it's appeared, virtually out of nowhere, in most of my pastures this year; guess the cooler wetter conditions were right for it. I'm glad to see it; though, as cool as our summer has been, even the fescue & orchardgrass never really went into their typical summer slump.

 

[branguscowgirl]

Wow! I can send you two some, we have it everywhere!!! It is chocking my clover this year. I guess we are luckier than I thought! Always felt it was just a weed.....Lol

 

[presmudjo]

I am learning all the time. I read about the Dallisgrass and went to searching the internet. Is the ergot fungus the black stuff on the seedheads in the pictures I find? Non that I saw really explained, just showed a bunch of pictures, and some are fuzzy (government ones). I just noticed this "new grass" today that sure looks like the pictures, minus the black. It is in my yard, ok, flowerbeds. But if it is there, it is probably in the pasture too.

 

[branguscowgirl]

The fungus is black or greyish and VERY sticky. Some say it looks like popcorn. But I am not seeing that here. (However ours did not get rained on.) I first noticed the black, sticky, sappy stuff, all over my horses. It is on their faces and forelocks from grazing between it. Plus on their legs. It comes off with just water though. To me, it just makes the seeds look like they have been dipped in oil. (Not dry and loose.)

 

[branguscowgirl]

This is a good site from UC Davis. The dallis grass is quite a ways down. anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8398.pdf