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Schools to replace toxic fescue

The damaging effects on cattle that winter graze on toxic fescue have been showing up in Missouri. Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist, tells Brownfield toxic fescue “Kentucky 31” is the cause. In one case, a Missouri producer lost five out of 30 cows to fescue foot.

“When cattle are grazing Toxic Tall Fescue in the winter time, they start experiencing basal constriction, a lack of blood flow to the extremities. And when there’s no blood going to the extremities, eventually that part will rot and fall off.”

Cattle that have fescue foot have to be put down.  It takes one full season to replace toxic fescue with NON-toxic “novel-endophyte” fescue.

Roberts says damage is estimated at $900 Million dollars a year. Toxic fescue symptoms occur year round.

The Alliance for Grassland Renewal, in partnership with Missouri, Kansas and Kentucky extension services, is holding fescue schools this week in each of those states to teach producers how to replace the old fescue.

Link to information and dates for schools this week