Supplements for Cattle Grazing Endophyte-Infected Fescue

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Supplements for Cattle Grazing Endophyte-Infected
Fescue

• John B. Hall
• Extension Beef Specialist
• Virginia Tech

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Impacts of dirty fescue on cattle

• Over 600 million lost annually to fescue related
  production problems
• Physical effects
• Decreased growth
• Impaired reproduction

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Toxins in fescue

• Primarily ergopeptides
• Found in highest concentrations in seedhead and
  stem
• Act as hormone like substances in the body
• Effect hormone secretion from the brain
• Direct effects on tissues

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RESTRICTION BAND
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CRACKING DRY GANGRENE SLOUGH
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Strategies to Overcome Effects of E Fescue

• Incorporate legumes or switch forages
• Select against sensitive cattle
• Change calving season
• Supplementary feed
• energy
• by-pass protein
• TASCO
• FEB-200

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TASCO

• A seaweed meal made by Arcadian Agritech, Inc.,
  NS
• They have no idea what it does
• Can be delivered in a mineral mix

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General observations on TASCO

• Improved immune function in stressed cattle and
  lambs
• Slight decreases in body temperature
• Increased gains??
• Many studies of no effect
• Mineral intake increases (2x)
• Cost??

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TASCO Effects on pregnancy rate

• No impact on
• BCS
• Hair score
• Pregnancy rate
• Still analyzing
• Body temp at AI
• Prolactin levels
• Calf WW

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FEB-200

• A yeast product made by Alltech, Inc., KY
• Modified glucomannan
• Absorbs or detoxifies toxins produced by
  endophyte
• Can be delivered in a mineral mix

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General observations on FEB-200

• Increased dry matter intake
• Slight decreases in body temperature
• Increased gains
• Improved BCS
• Increased milk production
• Mineral intake increases (2x)
• Cost??

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Effects on Cow-Calf Pairs - KY
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Effects on Cow-Calf Pairs - OH
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How to prevent the Milk Crisis

• For 45 to 60 days before calving to 20 to 30 days
  after calving
• Substitute 50 or more of the fescue with other
  feeds
• corn gluten
• litter/corn mixes
• Consider special non-fescue pasture
• Cull cows that have no-milk

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