Select Post; Deselect Post; Link to Post; Back to Top; Post by milkmachine on Jun … We’ve outlined a number of studies on the topic for you (references at the bottom of this article). The tall fescues and meadow fescues have a higher level of NDF and a great yield component. Bermuda grass hay. Fescue tends to be shorther and softer though, so the "teeth grinding" benefit is less than with other grass hays. If fescue is not managed properly, the quality of the crop declines significantly. Samples of hay and pasture can be tested for the presence of fescue toxins. Tall fescue seeded in November and treated with preemergence herbicides the following February has lower turfgrass quality ratings and reduced stand density compared to tall fescue seeded in October. The toxin produced by the fungus inhibits some very important hormones from being produced properly in a pregnant mare. Commonly used plants for hay include mixtures of grasses such as ryegrass (Lolium species), timothy, brome, fescue, Bermuda grass, orchard grass, and other species, depending on region.Hay may also include legumes, such as alfalfa (lucerne) and clovers (red, white and subterranean).Legumes in hay are ideally cut pre-bloom. There are many varieties of tall fescue from all over the world, but the variety most commonly found in Central Kentucky and the Eastern U.S. is called Kentucky 31 (KY-31). Fescue hay. More than half of the total yearly production occurs in spring. Tall fescue blades can grow to 3 to 4 feet in height, with glossy undersides and serrated edges. High quality hay can be an excellent source of nutrition for - including protein and calcium - for horses and ponies and is a very palatable feed.. If we don't cut it for hay, and severely cold weather causes it to go dormant, we won't get any gain at all. Both the mare and the foal can be affected. It is drought resistant, resistant to overgrazing and is a high quality nutrient source. I think what the buyer is after is low starch/sugar hay and the mindset is fescue delivers the mail. Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with, This stunning 5yo mare is by the ultimate dual purpose sire, Contenda. ex Fabr. The same management practices apply for early grazing as well as for hay. Both the mare and the foal can be affected. And do you have horse folks who will buy it? Not endophyte resistant - but straight up tall fescue? any grass of the genus Festuca, some species of which are cultivated for pasture or lawns. Hard fescue grass is the hardiest of the fine fescue species. Some of the newer tall fescue varieties have improved seedling vigour. Stressed cool season grasses, such as fescue, orchard grass, and Timothy, tend to be higher in NSC; Hay analysis. She has published novels and numerous online articles. - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: Ive had requests and seen ISO ads on the internet for straight fescue hay. Because fescue is primarily a cool-season crop, its quality goes down in summer, when the grasses mature. This is the only proven method of identifying endophyte fungus in fescue. Tall fescue is an extremely hardy, well-adapted grass species used for hay and pasture in the central and eastern United States and the Pacific Northwest. It is very important to use endophyte free varieties. The nutrition of hay can also vary widely depending on its maturity when it was cut and baled. Cattle will lose weight. Tall fescue is an extremely hardy, well-adapted grass species used for hay and pasture in the central and eastern United States and the Pacific Northwest. Tall fescue itself is not dangerous, but ergovaline produced by the endophyte that often infects tall fescue can cause health concerns in breeding mares and stallions grazing infected tall fescue pastures. Share Thread. Hay and grass is a very important resource, the growing of hay and grasses in the farming community is very deep seeded (joke intended). Fescue is a variety of grass that is often grown as a hay crop in various parts of the United States. Cut it for hay, and gains would be 11/44 to 11/42 lb./day. Are Your Horses Ready for You to be Quarantined? Consumers should double-check the variety description to ensure the variety they are buying for any breeding stock produces no ergovaline. A hay’s protein content and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) should be below 35% for goats. They are famous for being very durable and drought resistant, and they are popular in a range of climates and areas of the world. Fescue is a variety of grass that is often grown as a hay crop in various parts of the United States. The endophyte produces chemicals (alkaloids) that benefit the plant by making tall fescue tolerant of heavy grazing as well as drought, disease, and insect damage. Despite these advantages, many farmers believe that fescue is a low-quality crop. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Proper soil preparation is critical for effective seed establishment. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Tall fescue is grown for pasture, hay, silage and as a companion crop with other forage grass varieties and legumes. Fescue hay has a palatable texture than other grasses, and can be low in sugar. Because fescue is primarily a cool-season crop, its quality goes down in summer, when the grasses mature. fescue has poor seedling vigour with the roots and crown developing slowly, so sufficient seed should be sown to promote good ground cover. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. A few points to consider about the background genetic … Add to Favorites Reading Time: 6 minutes Red bag, abortions, thickened placentas, founder, necrosis, failure to freshen — all are symptoms of fescue toxicity … and yet tall fescue is one of the most common forages for livestock in both pasture and baled grass hay. Tall fesc… The first step is to remove the mares from fescue pastures, switching them onto fescue-free hay or hay cubes. However, with su… Tracy Morris has been a freelance writer since 2000. Hard fescue grass grows in clumps making it slower to establish than chewings and red fescue grass but once established, hard fescue grass requires little maintenance. Stay up-to-date on the latest news about your horse's health with FREE newsletters from TheHorse.com. The relative merits of fescue as a hay crop are debated among farmers due to the number of challenges that the crop presents. This popular hay is available in the … Older varieties (pre release of Demeter) e.g. Another large concern among farmers is the toxicity of fescue. Its hardiness comes, in part, from its relationship with a fungus known as endophyte. noun. Fescue hay can cause toxicosis in pregnant mares when they eat tall fescue that is infected with an endophyte fungus, Acremonium coenephialum . It is very popular in the Transition Zone because of its heat and drought tolerance. In pregnant horses, endophyte reduces the production of milk, thickens the placenta surrounding the foal, prolongs gestation and creates foaling difficulty. Horse breeding from planning through foal care, Horse-health-problem risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, Design and maintain a healthy horse operation, Prevention and treatment for problems of the equine foot, How to care for the basic health needs of horses, Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of leg lameness, Proper feeding practices for foals, adult horses, and older horses, All aspects of caring for performance horses, News and issues for equine health professionals, Discussions about the welfare of our equine friends, Veterinary Ophthalmology Professor to Give Milne Lecture at AAEP Convention, Regenerative Therapies for Sport Horse Injuries. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Kevin Dooley, Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of John Haslam, Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Ryan Mcdonald, Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Todd Huffman, Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of David McDermott, Missouri Extension Service: Harvesting Fescue Hay, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture: Choosing Hay for Horses, The Ohio State University Extension Service: Fescue Toxicosis. This fungus grows and lives in contaminated fescue and when ingested by your horse, toxicity will develop. Grass hay is often described as “mixed.” A mixed grass hay may include fescue, and that fescue might be infected with endophyte which is as detrimental in hay as it is in fresh forage. Planting. Tall Fescue. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It is well adapted to low-pH soils like those found in strip mine reclamation. If you must graze animals in fescue, limit the grazing time to no more than 10 days. Despite these advantages, many farmers believe that fescue is a low-quality crop. Fescue is a type of plant native to many regions. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The educated buyers don't want anything to do with it. Fescue to be used for hay … Bermuda grass hay . This coincides with the time that many farmers choose to harvest the grasses. One of the larger fescues this is a valuable grazing grass which can also be made into hay. As we discussed last month, if there is a super grass, it is fescue. Tall fescue has a high yield. Fescue Horse Hay - Did Something Change? These issues and related health problems are collectively termed fescue toxicosis. Other pasture forbs are also sometimes a … There are several laboratories that specialize in hay analysis. Under irrigation and managed grazing, tall fescue is also productive in the Coastal Plain. Tall fescue is a deep-rooted, sod-forming grass best adapted to cool-season production. Before feeding fescue hay to pregnant mares, a horse owner should make sure that the hay is free of the endophyte fungus. A recent article on The Horse discussed a Mediterranean-type tall fescue with a specific strain of endophyte causing a syndrome in horses called equine fescue edema. In dryland pastures where tall fescue is the only grass species to be sown use a seeding rate of 6–10 kg/ha. Since it’s less nutrient-dense than legume hay, horses have to eat more grass hay to fill their bellies, which makes grass hay a good tool for keeping a stall-bound horse from getting bored. Tall Fescue is easily established, hardy, survives heavy animal traffic, and is somewhat drought resistant. Fescue hay can cause toxicosis in pregnant mares when they eat tall fescue that is infected with an endophyte fungus, Acremonium coenephialum . Fescue is used as a foraging crop because it stands up to repeated close grazing and grows vigorously at low temperatures. Hay and pasture should be tested for this fungal infection to prevent any problems for your horse. Novel endophyte-infected or endophyte-free tall fescues are safe for all classes of horses. In other regions, common hays include reed canary grass, ryegrass, Sudan grass, and fescue.
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