New Land and Fescue...

[mrvictordomino]

I would most definitely clip the seed heads off, the clover will help with the fescue toxicity.

 

[dun]

How soon do you plan on grazing it? If you don;t need it right away I would wait until the seed starts to shed then brush hog it to a height that will take off an or 2 of the leaf. Clipping higher can leave seed head stubble that will lacerate the eyes. If you need it right away I would clip it to that same height now. If there is 30-50% clover that will address the majority of the toxicity issues if the cows have been on fescue before. If they haven;t been adapted to fescue I would probably put out protein tubs to help dilute the fescue affects. I've seen cows that have never been on fescue curl up and die when put on it, although most will just lose condition and look poorly for a while.

 

[tdc_cattle]

Make sure to use fescue equalizer mineral.

 

[talltimber]

It has been recommended to me to use a hi-mag mineral this time of year, and on fresh stockpile in the fall although I don't think it is as critical, especially on older cows with calves on them. I run hi-mag year round myself. You may not have trouble with grass tetany in your area but a veterinarian should be able to answer that for you.

Mine are on some tall (high) fescue now. I am watching for substantial tearing of the eyes. If they start doing that, then I will clip it when I can. Normally, I don't clip until July/August, but I am not convinced that is the right thing to do (to wait that long).

Clipping twice a year (the other for weeds/stockpile in Aug), will double the fuel bill, but may have to be done.

 

[skyhightree1]

Tim welcome to the fescue club... Mine have always been on the fescue. I would roll it for hay personally then put them on to graze it. If you notice in a lot of my pics I have a ton of clover with my fescue to help. You can use minerals and such to help them out. Unless you bought your cattle somewhere far away I would think they have had fescue at some point in there life.

 

[RiverHills]

Like sky sayed I would Bale it. Then you get the lush growth for them to graze.

Clipping it works but unless it is cut low like dun said it leaves some stout stems. We are grazing full grouth fescue right now. We will let them pick threw it then clip it. The hills limit us from baling it.

The clover should help a lot if they are not adjusted to fescue. ADM and a few other companies have products to help off set the toxicity.

 

[littletom]

I have been lucky I guess never had a problem with it. I do keep out all hi mag year around. I brought in cows from tx in 12 and some from Midwest last year no problems with those either. If it were me I would also bale it.

 

[Anonymous]

not to knock to anyone but if it is down the road ,its more than likely on your home place .once you got it its a love +hate relationship. if you got the time an money clip it give a time for re coup, mag , put a bale or so good hay out turn them in
keep close eye on them for first couple week if they never been on much fescue they wont like it they will how ever go for the {clover} ,(learn the signs of toxicity) but expect to carry it home so if dont have it .you soon will !it does make decent hay if it starting to head out{best time to cut fescue in my opinion} and you dont need pasture right away it could be to your advantage to bale it ,throw down fert, mabe 2 ton lime /ac. depending what time yr you turn them out brodcast low rate some cheap clover seed on thin spots let them walk it in !not advice just my thoughts,lot of good advice so far on this subject !there a lot ways you can go about it.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Your worried about problems you don't have yet. Get a good mineral and keep it out 24/7.

 

[RiverHills]

We are talking about the toxicity that makes them hot right?

 

[dun]

We are talking about the toxicity that makes them hot right?

Correct, increase body temp and decreases blood circulation.

 

[RiverHills]

We are talking about the toxicity that makes them hot right?

Correct, increase body temp and decreases blood circulation.

Thanks dun that's what I was thinking!!!!

I'm not an expert but I don't think hi-mag helps with fescue toxicity. ADM has a mineral that should help it's called endo-fighter. I'm sure there are other minerals that have something to help with the toxicity.

I have never dealt with new cow on fescue. But I think it's more of a weight or milk production thief. In most cases you really never see the symptoms other than maybe standing in ponds.

Also the more the fescue matures the hotter it gets.

 

[Banjo]

Out of 50 cows on fescue you may have one or two it will bother.....i.e. sore feet/limp and the rest be fine. That's been my experience and it can happen anytime of year when the grass is short, or tall and rank, that has always puzzled me.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

You are reading to much crap on CT and listening to internet experts. Hi Mag mineral is for grass tetany. You need a mineral that fight fescue toxicity. I use Vita Ferm with CTC. Thousands of cattle graze fescue with out dying with the first bite.

 

[Ebenezer]

Don't worry about the seedheads unless you just like to worry. Seedheads will create a microclimate at the leaf level to protect and grow more into droughts - keeps the wind away from the surface and increases dew. We never mow them down and do not suffer with pinkeye or eye injuries. Cows and sheep will graze them off as they want to.

If you have cows that cannot deal with fescue find cows that can. Most can't but some will not show signs or effects of fescue issues. In the SE and I guess elsewhere the first thing to check is hair coat as a general rule. Watch the ones that hide in the shade all day.

Then do the advice of decent minerals (watch Se, Zn, Cu and I, especially) to be sure that amounts are high enough in the minerals to do some good and the sources of them are absorbable by the cattle.

The clovers will make or break the deal so check soil samples and if you can only afford one, put out lime as a priority over fertilizer.

 

[MikeBo]

We have many rental farms within 3 miles of my personal farm. My place has Bermuda, Max Q, Caucasian, and Orchard Grass, and rye paddocKs.The rental places are are all K 31 with 30-50% clover stands. People who "don't have fescue problems don't look at the situation empirically.... In my opinion. The cattle on my personal farm wean calves on average that are +57lbs. Cattle genetics are the same. If I showed you the cattle you can visibly see the condition difference.m