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Discussion on How much fescue is a concern?
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Member:
lindas
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 21, 2009 - 7:56 pm:
Hi Dr. O,
My mare is due to foal in about 2 weeks. She has been off fescue for 50 days, and has been doing well on an alfalfa/orchard grass/timothy mix that I get in from New York state, and brome. She has been kept in our riding arena, which until the past week or so has had no grass. Now the fescue is popping up around the outside edges of the arena, and she can reach the little shoots. She prefers them over the brome, so after she finishes the alfalfa she goes and sees what she can find, then after her nap she eats the brome. There is not a lot, but I was wondering if it is worth the effort to go out and dig up the little fescue plants. It's a pretty big arena and the ground is hard around the edges. I would prefer to spray, but she would probably eat the fescue anyway until the plants all die. What do you think, any information out there?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 22, 2009 - 8:21 pm:
Fungus free fescue is safe at any amount. With individual sensitivity varying and differing rates of fungal contamination in the grass there is no "well described" harmful amount. That said, the risk from this type exposure is low.
DrO
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Member:
lindas
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Posted on Monday, Mar 23, 2009 - 8:29 am:
The grass around the arena is not part of the pasture so my husband put in plain old Kentucky 31 to control erosion on the hill. Of course, we have no idea if the grass is safe or not. Unfortunately the seed on one side got too close to the arena. Because of my work schedule I usually turn her out in the dark, and the kids bring her in at night, so I only see her arena on the weekends. Man, that grass pops up fast! Last weekend there was nothing there. She has plenty to eat all day, but who can blame her for going after the nice new green shoots? Thanks.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 24, 2009 - 7:57 am:
Kentucky 31's DrOught resistance is primarily due to fungal symbiosis so it's infected. It she is getting a fair amount simply mowing a strip would prevent too much consumption.
DrO
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