How to Manage Toxic Tall Fescue.

Nearly all tall fescue pastures planted in the US before 1980 are infected with Neotyphodium coenophialum, a microscopic fungus.  The common strain of this fungus produces toxins called ergot alkaloids, such as ergovaline, that cause fescue toxicosis.  Fescue toxicosis costs U.S. livestock producers up to $1 billion each year.   At present, there is no cure for fescue toxicosis. There are, however, proven management strategies that avoid or lessen the effect of toxicosis. One strategy is the replacement of toxic tall fescue with cultivars that are endophyte-free or contain nontoxic endophytes. Other strategies involve management of toxic tall fescue pastures according to a series of practices that limit the amount of toxin that is ingested by the animal.  This poster will discuss fescue toxicosis as it occurs in ruminant livestock and horses and offer feasible recommendations for management.  The recommendations are based on data from controlled experiments.