Endophyte and rookies

[rwtherefords]

I've heard everyone talking about endophytes in fescue, and that it's poisonous to cattle for some time now. There were a series of questions that I never got answered like: What exactly is an endophyte? Is it a chemical, organism, or what? Why is endophyte toxic to cattle? Why does a stand of clover mixed in with fescue negate the endophyte problem? And one more thing, what heppens to cattle who are poisoned by endophyte?

I ran across this info and thought I'd post it in case there are others wondering what the answers were to the same questions I had.

The endophyte is a fungus that resides in the leaf and seed of the pant. It imparts to the grass a tremendous ability to sustain itself in heat, drought and under foot. Take this endophyte out and the grass is called endophyte free, it is not as good as that which is infected, does not hold up as well in the pature during poor rainfall.

The E+ type endophyte produces a substance that causes problems with cattle, it increases their temperature, they eat less and it sometimes produces a toxicosis - which we had in half our herd last year. The toxicosis comes in many types and may be severe. The substance produes a vasoconstriction of blood vessels and in the appendages such as feet and tail they can get lame, or worse during very cold weather sluff a foot, etc. This later is called Fescue Foot.

One can manage this toxicity by diluting your E+ fescue pastures with things like clover, so that they get additional sources of grass not just fescue.

I've raised cattle for years on a fescue/clover pasture with no problems, so I never really dug into the issue in the past.

 

[preston39]

I've heard everyone talking about endophytes in fescue, and that it's poisonous to cattle for some time now. There were a series of questions that I never got answered like: What exactly is an endophyte? Is it a chemical, organism, or what? Why is endophyte toxic to cattle? Why does a stand of clover mixed in with fescue negate the endophyte problem? And one more thing, what heppens to cattle who are poisoned by endophyte?

I ran across this info and thought I'd post it in case there are others wondering what the answers were to the same questions I had.

The endophyte is a fungus that resides in the leaf and seed of the pant. It imparts to the grass a tremendous ability to sustain itself in heat, drought and under foot. Take this endophyte out and the grass is called endophyte free, it is not as good as that which is infected, does not hold up as well in the pature during poor rainfall.

The E+ type endophyte produces a substance that causes problems with cattle, it increases their temperature, they eat less and it sometimes produces a toxicosis - which we had in half our herd last year. The toxicosis comes in many types and may be severe. The substance produes a vasoconstriction of blood vessels and in the appendages such as feet and tail they can get lame, or worse during very cold weather sluff a foot, etc. This later is called Fescue Foot.

One can manage this toxicity by diluting your E+ fescue pastures with things like clover, so that they get additional sources of grass not just fescue.

I've raised cattle for years on a fescue/clover pasture with no problems, so I never really dug into the issue in the past.

==================
rwtherefords,

Good article. I had seen somewhere that it is a fungus....and that other mixes seems to dilute it's bad side. I have never seen...or heard details of the the effects.... as this article describes..doesn't sound good.

Maybe our efforts to maintain clovers,etc...is the reason we have never had a problem..... in addition to the leaching of nutrients back into the soil.
The emphasis on prevention...without comment on treatment....may... suggest that treatments are limited....especially if the diagnosis is not made early. Major signs should be in the offering thought before a foot ..etc...falls off. Hopefully someone will comment on treatments..if any. That article refers to...grass...I wonder if this toxicity can be carried over into cured hay?

 

[rwtherefords]

I wonder if this toxicity can be carried over into cured hay?

I've wondered that myself. Any experts out there who would like to clear this up?

 

[jerry27150]

get them off of fescue imediately

 

[dun]

Endophye infected fescue causes elevated body temperatures and reduce circulation to the extremeties.
The main problems I'm aware of are lower conception rate in cows, poor sperm viability in bulls, reduced milk production and in the most serious cases lose of the feet or tail. Sore footedness is refered to as "fescue foot" and can be treated with removal from infected fescue and some vets use antibiotics but I have no idea what/how that helps.
Some cattle seem to have a natural immunity or at least are affected less by the endophyte.
Dilution of the endophyte with other forages and particularly legumes seems to decrease the affects.
Supposedly, after storage the endophyte is decreased, but it seems to depend on the stage the hay was cut. Stockpiled fescue is supposed to be the lowest in toxicity.
I would think that any search using "fescue toxicity" or maybe "fescue foot" would generate hundreds of hits that will cover the subject much better then I did.

dun

 

[preston39]

Endophye infected fescue causes elevated body temperatures and reduce circulation to the extremeties.
The main problems I'm aware of are lower conception rate in cows, poor sperm viability in bulls, reduced milk production and in the most serious cases lose of the feet or tail. Sore footedness is refered to as "fescue foot" and can be treated with removal from infected fescue and some vets use antibiotics but I have no idea what/how that helps.
Some cattle seem to have a natural immunity or at least are affected less by the endophyte.
Dilution of the endophyte with other forages and particularly legumes seems to decrease the affects.
Supposedly, after storage the endophyte is decreased, but it seems to depend on the stage the hay was cut. Stockpiled fescue is supposed to be the lowest in toxicity.
I would think that any search using "fescue toxicity" or maybe "fescue foot" would generate hundreds of hits that will cover the subject much better then I did.

dun

==========
dun

This may not be new to some...did you see the study that indicated fescue starts loosing the protein...some 1/2 % per day once the head starts forming?

As I understand it the conclusion is that fescue should be cut...just as ...the first seed start appearing....to harvest and get the highest protein content for dry feeding....what...some 13-14%., i think.

By the time the head is fully formed it is down to 3-4 %. I am going to study it again...if my understanding is correct we are cutting in another week or two. A change in our traditional practice. The clover is smaller..but it represents a smaller amount of the volume.

 

[dun]

This may not be new to some...did you see the study that indicated fescue starts loosing the protein...some 1/2 % per day once the head starts forming?

As I understand it the conclusion is that fescue should be cut...just as ...the first seed start appearing....to harvest and get the highest protein content for dry feeding....what...some 13-14%., i think.

By the time the head is fully formed it is down to 3-4 %. I am going to study it again...if my understanding is correct we are cutting in another week or two. A change in our traditional practice. The clover is smaller..but it represents a smaller amount of the volume.

The nutrutive value of any forage is decreased once it starts to headout. Never have seen anything on the amount but we've had straight fescue hay that was put up at full head that tested around 10-11%.
I would think that since the endophyte is concentrated primarily in the seeds that cutting it earlier would increase the toxicity.

I know there are folks that hate fescue (I'm one of them) but if it wasn;t for the high endophyte fescue I doubt if there would be a beef cow in some parts of the country, particularly MO.
It's just like any other situation, you have to learn to adapt to it and manage accordingly.

dun

 

[preston39]

This may not be new to some...did you see the study that indicated fescue starts loosing the protein...some 1/2 % per day once the head starts forming?

As I understand it the conclusion is that fescue should be cut...just as ...the first seed start appearing....to harvest and get the highest protein content for dry feeding....what...some 13-14%., i think.

By the time the head is fully formed it is down to 3-4 %. I am going to study it again...if my understanding is correct we are cutting in another week or two. A change in our traditional practice. The clover is smaller..but it represents a smaller amount of the volume.

The nutrutive value of any forage is decreased once it starts to headout. Never have seen anything on the amount but we've had straight fescue hay that was put up at full head that tested around 10-11%.
I would think that since the endophyte is concentrated primarily in the seeds that cutting it earlier would increase the toxicity.

I know there are folks that hate fescue (I'm one of them) but if it wasn;t for the high endophyte fescue I doubt if there would be a beef cow in some parts of the country, particularly MO.
It's just like any other situation, you have to learn to adapt to it and manage accordingly.

dun

===========
dun,
Interesting. In the next day or so I will pull up this study..would appreciate your reaction. Wife will find it...she's good...finds where I put 'em.

 

[MrBilly]

I think you will find your answers in this article by Dr. Carl Hoveland, Univ. of Georiga. He was the one that discovered how the endophyte causes the toxicity.

So from the horses mouth it comes :lol:
http://www.beefimprovement.org/03procee ... veland.pdf

Billy

 

[stocky]

fescue is our main cattle feed. i only have one pasture that i have a problem and in late june i start feeding a fescue mineral that is medicated. if i dont feed it, i have cows start limping and have swollen feet. if i do feed it, i do not have this problem. i believe this problem is due to fescue toxicity, i may be assuming incorrectly but the fescue mineral, and several companies produce a type of this, takes care of the problem. i also have clover and mixed grasses and weeds that help dilute the fescue. all my fescue is the traditional kentucky 31. it is the only type of fescue that survives the hot summers here in the ozarks in the hills where i am at. neighbors have tried killing it and sewing the endophyte free, but none of the stands have lasted. the main thing is to be aware that there can be problems and be ready to manage them. sometimes supplementing with hay in august is necessary instead of just making them eat dried out fescue

 

[preston39]

I wonder if this toxicity can be carried over into cured hay?

I've wondered that myself. Any experts out there who would like to clear this up?

===
rwtherefords,

It would appear that it can. :roll:

I found two of the articles in the saved files..but still one missing...looking.

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/forage/pubs/97 ... fora05.pdf

http://extension.missouri.edu/extension ... sp?id=6051

 

[Farminlund]

fescue is our main cattle feed. i only have one pasture that i have a problem and in late june i start feeding a fescue mineral that is medicated. if i dont feed it, i have cows start limping and have swollen feet. if i do feed it, i do not have this problem. i believe this problem is due to fescue toxicity, i may be assuming incorrectly but the fescue mineral, and several companies produce a type of this, takes care of the problem. i also have clover and mixed grasses and weeds that help dilute the fescue. all my fescue is the traditional kentucky 31. it is the only type of fescue that survives the hot summers here in the ozarks in the hills where i am at. neighbors have tried killing it and sewing the endophyte free, but none of the stands have lasted. the main thing is to be aware that there can be problems and be ready to manage them. sometimes supplementing with hay in august is necessary instead of just making them eat dried out fescue

Stocky,

What exactly is in the mineral mix that stops the onset of the toxicity effects in cattle (like fescue feet, poor breeding, rough hair coat, etc)? The antibiotics don't help with fescue foot - my experience. Your situation couldn't be hoof rot which would be controlled with the use of antibiotics?

I have issues with fescue as well - low summer breeding rates & my only cases of fescue foot have occurred in late fall on stockpile fescue. I also have read articles that do suggest the highest incidences of fescue foot happen in early winter on stockpile fescue (confirms my experiences).

 

[stocky]

farminlund, at the moment, i am not sure exactly the makeup of the mix. it is called fescue mineral and is commercially made. i will have to find out what the mix is in the brand that i buy.
it is possible that the problem is foot rot. normally when i have foot rot, it is from a dirty pond that is infected with it and alot of cows will get it from standing in that pond. this pasture is fresh water and the only foot problems are july-august, every year. i guess i am associating that with the fescue seed heads.
i will check on the mix of that mineral.

 

[jerry27150]

most fescue minerals have chloratetracyclene

 

[jerry27150]

also a pour on like ivermectin will help negate the effects of fescue if put on toward the end of june or early july

 

[msscamp]

also a pour on like ivermectin will help negate the effects of fescue if put on toward the end of june or early july

Why would a pour-on dewormer help with a fungal problem?

 

[MrBilly]

I see no worldly reason why an antibiotic or a wormer would do anything to reduce the toxicity produced by the fungus - which by the way is in the grass and not in the animal. The fungus produces an ergot alkaloid which is vasoconstrictive and causes most of the observed cow problems. Neither of the drugs mentioned above have any affect on this mechanism or the alkaloid. If someone has any scientific data, please post it so we can all learn.

Billy

 

[dun]

If I remeber correctly the way it was explained to me was that it doesn't affect the toxicity but keeps secondary problems from the endophyte from happening. The explanation was a lot more scientific but it seems that was the jist of it.
ADM has a new mineral package that it calims will counteract the endophyte. I sent an e-mail inquiry to them this morning asking them what the deal is. Supposedly it has something besides minerals and CTC that does it. I didn;t get a very good explanation of it but we're feeding it now and it's the same cost as any other CTC/IGR mineral. The mag runs 1.8% which is higher then the standard mineral that we've fed in the past.

dun

 

[Farminlund]

ADM has a new mineral package that it calims will counteract the endophyte. I sent an e-mail inquiry to them this morning asking them what the deal is. Supposedly it has something besides minerals and CTC that does it. I didn;t get a very good explanation of it but we're feeding it now and it's the same cost as any other CTC/IGR mineral. The mag runs 1.8% which is higher then the standard mineral that we've fed in the past.

dun

Dun, Is there a web site with more details explaining the how & why? Is there a way see the entire list of ingrediants & the %'s, PPM's, & whatever? Does it talk to pregnancy - my issue in the summer is settling cows which is compounded by the high temps but think the fescue is also a big factor - just MO.

 

[dun]

Is there a web site with more details explaining the how & why? Is there a way see the entire list of ingrediants & the %'s, PPM's, & whatever? Does it talk to pregnancy - my issue in the summer is settling cows which is compounded by the high temps but think the fescue is also a big factor - just MO.

This is the basic website with the particualrs about the overall mineral deal and on the left is a link to endo-fighter and there is also one at the bottom of the page

http://www.admani.com/alliancebeef/Mastergain.htm