Fescue Belt

[cattle60]

Reading some posts, some talk about the fescue belt. Curious, What States/Areas are you considering the Fescue Belt?

 

[10-e-c-dirtfarmer]

google "fescue belt", you'll get several maps..

 

[cfpinz]

Reading some posts, some talk about the fescue belt. Curious, What States/Areas are you considering the Fescue Belt?

Yours, mine and pretty much all the states in between with similar latitude and forage base.

It gets blown way out of proportion in my opinion. Select your cows to suit your environment, not the other way around. This ain't rocket science.

 

[Duramaxgirl]

Like this? I know it's not here in North Idaho

 

[skyhightree1]

Reading some posts, some talk about the fescue belt. Curious, What States/Areas are you considering the Fescue Belt?

Whats fescue?

 

[Anonymous]

where ever it the seed lands it will usualy grow gota love it to hate it !

 

[Craig Miller]

Why hate it? It seems so much easier to just work with what grows naturally than try to do the work to grow something else.

 

[Clodhopper]

where ever it the seed lands it will usualy grow gota love it to hate it !

The only time this statement isn't true is when you seed down a new yard. It is quite vigorous otherwise.

 

[Anonymous]

you can flood it starve it from water not fertilizer it dam near burn it frezze it and its still there ! gota love it to hate it ! got 20 acre or more of mixed with some clover orchard grass an touch of timmothy 75 to 85% fescue with 3 to 6 inch of growth now ,will slow down next two months and come back like gang busters end of sept. should make nice winter pasture !

 

[sim.-ang.king]

Only time I like fescue is in a drought, or stockpiled for winter. For hay I would much rather have other grass, but instead I am blessed with fescue. The cows on the brown fescue pasture in the middle of January, do better then the cows on fescue hay.

 

[Anonymous]

amen ,there are so many other grasses i sown to watch fescue take the lickin an keep on tickin.just to think every thing else is so much better for the cows an horses .

 

[dun]

When we first moved to MO I had a vendetta against the stuff and wanted to eliminate all of it. Spent a lot of dollars, then we had a year of drought. Nothing survived except the KY31. Learned to if not love it at least to like it a lot. Started diluting it with other grasses, lespedeza and clover. After several more off and on droughts, KY31 and clover all all that has survived and even flourished.
If you learn to work with it instead of against it you will be ahead of the game. Just be aware of the possible probelms related to the toxicity and animals not being acclimated to it.

 

[City Guy]

I understand that the toxicity is greatest in the stems and seed heads, is that correct? And as such summer months are worst, is that correct?

 

[dun]

I understand that the toxicity is greatest in the stems and seed heads, is that correct? And as such summer months are worst, is that correct?

Correct. But the manifestation of the problem shows up in a more pronounced way in the winter. That's usually when the loss of tail switches, feet, etc. comes about becuase of decreased blood supply

 

[City Guy]

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING? EXERCISE?

 

[kilroy60]

Only time I like fescue is in a drought, or stockpiled for winter. For hay I would much rather have other grass, but instead I am blessed with fescue. The cows on the brown fescue pasture in the middle of January, do better then the cows on fescue hay.

Fescue won't grow in a drought. If you don't believe it, come on down to NE Georgia and see the burnt fescue fields and pastures. We've been feeding hay since June and it looks like we will continue through the rest of the summer. Praying for rain and cooler temp's to get the fescue back in growth mode along with the other grasses.

 

[dun]

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP THE BLOOD FLOWING? EXERCISE?

Since it's caused by a restriction of the blood vessels throughout the body, not sure that it would help. So it's back to the old standbys, dilute the toxicity and select for cattle that are not as seriously affected by the endophyte. I don;t know if it helps, but CTC in the minerals seems to help. We've never had an issue with fescue foot or loss of parts although I know of neighbors and friends that have had problems with it. For us the main affects we see is that slow shedding of winter hair, panting and probably lower weaning weights.

 

[cfpinz]

We've never had an issue with fescue foot or loss of parts although I know of neighbors and friends that have had problems with it.

Same here, usually it's the neighbors with white salt blocks laying in the field. Hmmm.....

 

[aaroninga]

Kilroy, where are you? I'm in NE Georgia too. Homer, Between Commerce and Baldwin.
I'm feeding hay for the last 6-8 weeks too.
It ain't looking good!
I'm planning to drill fescue and clover in the fall.

Fescue won't grow in a drought. If you don't believe it, come on down to NE Georgia and see the burnt fescue fields and pastures. We've been feeding hay since June and it looks like we will continue through the rest of the summer. Praying for rain and cooler temp's to get the fescue back in growth mode along with the other grasses.[/quote]

 

[sim.-ang.king]

Only time I like fescue is in a drought, or stockpiled for winter. For hay I would much rather have other grass, but instead I am blessed with fescue. The cows on the brown fescue pasture in the middle of January, do better then the cows on fescue hay.

Fescue won't grow in a drought. If you don't believe it, come on down to NE Georgia and see the burnt fescue fields and pastures. We've been feeding hay since June and it looks like we will continue through the rest of the summer. Praying for rain and cooler temp's to get the fescue back in growth mode along with the other grasses.

Won't grow, but it won't die either.