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Discussion on Handling Fescue with a Pregnant Mare
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Member:
Taxiridr
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 27, 2003 - 10:22 am:
I have a question about fescue toxicity from the endophyte fungus. How tall or developed must the fescue grass be before it can become infected with the fungus? Is it safe to say that if you simply mow or cut the fescue grass it will control the problem? I know there is probably an article covering this topic, but sometimes searching this site is difficult for me for some reason! So, I feel like a dork asking.
Also, I know Vets love recommending alfalfa hay, and for good reasons. However, I cannot find safe alfalfa to feed, blister beetles have taken over! Is there a good suppliment to feed to get the results of alfalfa? Again, there is probably an article covering this topic, I am just too slow to find it!
Your guidance is appreciated!
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Member:
Westks
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 27, 2003 - 10:34 am:
Clover has nutritional benefits alfalfa does. It too has its own set of rules to change over and quantity guidelines. I will look for those.
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 27, 2003 - 3:04 pm:
Amy,
Not all fescue is contaminated to dangerous levels. You have to take samples to a lab. If you have a pregnant mare, take her off fescue for the last month or so, just to be on the safe side.
The fungus is already in the seed, so the plant's stage of maturity or trimming will not make a difference as far as I know.
There are, however, endophyte issues with more plants than fescue, clover is a problematic one in our part of the world. You should check with your local department of agriculture for more information.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 28, 2003 - 8:43 am:
Try this Amy, Equine Reproduction » Breeding and Foaling » Pregnant Mare Care and Nutrition. It covers many of your issues or has links to articles that do. Christos is correct: the whole plant at all stages is infected and though mowing may decrease the overall levels it is hard to know if it has been made safe.
DrO
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Member:
Taxiridr
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 30, 2003 - 7:02 pm:
Thank you everyone! The local extension agent here will send off my sample for analysis, am very excited, Christmas gift to myself. Does anyone know of any current research aimed at killing this fungus? Just curious.
By the way, the foal is a TB/Holsteiner cross and we are having a Name the Foal Contest. Prefer names beginning with "C" but anything creative will do! (Charlie horse has already been thought of)
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 31, 2003 - 5:04 am:
Yes, Amy, access to laboratories is beautiful and valuable.
To kill the fungus, you have to kill the plant that carries it and never let it grow again.
But do you really need to be so radical? Fescue, even infected one, is good grass and one pregnant mare does not justify the expense and the trouble of such an operation, in my opinion.
Can't you just keep her off the grass for the last fourty days of pregnancy?
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Member:
Taxiridr
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 31, 2003 - 6:18 pm:
Yes, you are right, currently the solution is to kill the grass and try to start over. And I will take her off the grass for the final trimester just to be safe, that is if the lab results come back at toxic levels. Has anyone heard of of any university or research company trying to come up with another solution like a spray or developing a fescue that is resistant to the fungus. I imagine if you can develop something to erradicate the fungus it would really benefit a lot of breeders. I am just curious.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Jan 2, 2004 - 9:31 am:
Amy, I do not know of any way to just kill the fungus.
DrO
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