Tall fescue is a deep-rooted, sod-forming grass best adapted to cool-season production. Great for cattle - I gather unless youve got a pregnant horse - otherwise great for horses? “The category we excel in is other grass hay, specifically cool-season grass or mostly fescue,” Cole explains. Stay up-to-date on the latest news about your horse's health with FREE newsletters from TheHorse.com. Because fescue is primarily a cool-season crop, its quality goes down in summer, when the grasses mature. Contenda competed at the top level in eventing…. Hay production for horses centers on nutritional quality, palatability, and digestibility. Hay containing mature fescue is not as palatable as some other types, and left-over hay sometimes ends up being used as bedding. A sample of the seed can be sent to a laboratory for testing prior to seeding. Helleria E.Fourn. Over 1 million acres of tall fescue are used for pasture in north Georgia. Studies have shown that fescue that is harvested during early spring before the grass has a chance to produce seeds is of a higher quality than fescue that is harvested in summer months. 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. 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. The bottom line is that cattle can gain a pound or more a day on green-growing fescue. Fescue Hay. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. For lactating cow forage, the mixture of alfalfa with meadow fescue and tall fescue resulted in higher yields and higher-quality forage compared to alfalfa alone. It's super high in sugar (it even affects cows with "fescue foot" ) Its a hardy grass, tolerant to traffic and overgrazing, and it's fattening. It is usually infected with a microscopic endophytic fungus called Neotyphodium coenophialum, which lives inside the plant. The toxin produced by the fungus inhibits some very important hormones from being produced properly in a pregnant mare. Fescue grows in bunches, growing tall rather than spreading out. Cut it for hay, and gains would be 11/44 to 11/42 lb./day. Fescue is a variety of grass that is often grown as a hay crop in various parts of the United States. Ple… The nutrition of hay can also vary widely depending on its maturity when it was cut and baled. If you continue to use the site, we'll assume you're okay with this. In spite of it's tufted growth pattern hard fescues mix well with other fine fescues. It does spike in sugar production in the fall, so be cautious when grazing or feeding it to sugar sensitive horses. Cutting Kentucky 32 tall fescue at the early boot stage will strike a balance between hay quality and forage yield. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Fescue is known as cool-season grass with heat, cold, and drought tolerance. But, when folks here in KY wait until the 4th of July or Labor Day to cut it (we call it 'Holiday Hay'), TDN and protein levels will be in the toilet. Farms dependent on horse breeding or dairy production may have no recourse but to eliminate all fescue from their fields and re-seed with another crop. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The best way to determine the NSC value in a bale of hay is to get it tested. Webcast | Horse Under Stress? Previous Thread; Next Thread; Please make a selection first; new « Prev; 1; Next » milkmachine Heifer. This variety now occurs naturally across the eastern part of the country based on extensive plantings for erosion control and pasture in the 1940s and '50s. Although tall fescue has gotten a bad reputation in the horse industry, it is a safe and practical grass for most classes of horses with the exception of broodmares. 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. This coincides with the time that many farmers choose to harvest the grasses. Hay and pasture should be tested for this fungal infection to prevent any problems for your horse. We have fields and fields of rolling hills of grass and hay. ex Fabr. Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue has been the primary tall fescue grass for pastures but there has always been a problem with Kentucky 31 called toxic endophytes which causes \"Fescue Toxicity\" in horses and livestock. Fescue grass. When you test your hay you get not only the NSC value but other nutrient levels as well. Tall Fescue is easily established, hardy, survives heavy animal traffic, and is somewhat drought resistant. The relative merits of fescue as a hay crop are debated among farmers due to the number of challenges that the crop presents. Composition. While grazing infected tall fescue is risky for breeding stock, no adverse effects have been reported in non-breeding horses. For the record: fescue can be fed to goats. any grass of the genus Festuca, some species of which are cultivated for pasture or lawns. Some horse hay buyers will buy fescue but these are typically the ones wanting cheap hay and buy based on price only. Kentucky 32 Tall Fescue is the answer to the problems associated with grazing infected Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue pastures. Tall Fescue. Fescue contains a toxin known as endophyte. Managing pure fescue stands for hay and grazing. Fescue is used as a foraging crop because it stands up to repeated close grazing and grows vigorously at low temperatures. It is extremely well suited for use as a stockpile forage because it retains its quality and improves in palatability in the fall. Recently, researchers have discovered other types of endophytes that produce only beneficial alkaloids, but not the harmful ergovaline. If pure fescue stands are used for hay, high yields can be expected if fertilizer is applied during the winter or very early spring. Other pasture forbs are also sometimes a … 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. Also called fescue grass . She holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Arkansas. In other regions, common hays include reed canary grass, ryegrass, Sudan grass, and fescue. 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. Both the mare and the foal can be affected. Moreover, hay can also refer to a mixture of different species of grasses. Fescue hay. Under irrigation and managed grazing, tall fescue is also productive in the Coastal Plain. It is very popular in the Transition Zone because of its heat and drought tolerance. If fescue is not managed properly, the quality of the crop declines significantly. RTF Tall Fescue has the highest winter -colour rendition of virtually all turf types available in Australia. Proper soil preparation is critical for effective seed establishment. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. If that weren't enough, it is also exceedingly productive under that broad temperature range. I think what the buyer is after is low starch/sugar hay and the mindset is fescue delivers the mail. OK, the lowdown on Teff Hay for horses. It’s a beautiful sight. Fescue hay can cause toxicosis in pregnant mares when they eat tall fescue that is infected with an endophyte fungus, Acremonium coenephialum . As a precaution, an experienced agronomist or other specialist should inspect discarded or inferior forage before it is used to bed down the stalls of mares in late gestation. However, once fescue reaches maturity, the levels of a fungus known as endophyte on the plant raise considerably. There are tall fescue blends, like Southern Gold® Mix, that contain varieties bred in the south that are able to survive the extreme weather conditions. It may not look as pretty as some of the lush deep green grasses on many championship courses you see on television, but fescue provides a fine playing surface when used on tees, fairways, and greens, and it offers its own beauty when used for rough and natural areas. Forage Tall Fescue handles all soil types, PH levels and moisture levels. Festuca Festuca pratensis Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Monocots Clade: Commelinids Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Subfamily: Pooideae Supertribe: Poodae Tribe: Poeae Subtribe: Loliinae Genus: Festuca L. Synonyms Amphigenes Janka Argillochloa W.A.Weber Drymochloa Holub Festucaria Heist. This popular hay is available in the … According to the University of Missouri, this reputation is primarily due to poor management. Tall fescue is not only a high-quality forage, but it will also continue to survive and provide forage during very stressful conditions, such as drought and overgrazing. The first step is to remove the mares from fescue pastures, switching them onto fescue-free hay or hay cubes. There is a bit of research looking at the use of teff hay in diets where low sugar, low starch forages are required. However, grass hay is very high in fiber. 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. While this is a serious concern in other countries, virtually all tall fescue varieties in the United States are Continental-type, not Mediterranean-type, and do not cause this syndrome. These varieties are safe for all classes of horses. - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: Ive had requests and seen ISO ads on the internet for straight fescue hay. Generally, fescue grasses prefer a cooler climate that is moist, but they have good drought and heat tolerance and will survive in dry environments by going into hibernation. All Rights Reserved. a pointer, as a straw or slender stick, used to point out the letters in teaching children … But it's not a bad choice. 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. As we discussed last month, if there is a super grass, it is fescue. Novel or endophyte-free tall fescue varieties are excellent choices for horse farms that breed or wish to breed in the future. If you must graze animals in fescue, limit the grazing time to no more than 10 days. Novel endophyte-infected or endophyte-free tall fescues are safe for all classes of horses. The next step is to contact a veterinarian about treatment. 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. Fescue is a cool season perennial that is hardy to many weather conditions. 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 has a palatable texture than other grasses, and can be low in sugar. Tall fescue does well in areas that have a transitional environment, where winters are too cold for warm-season grasses and summers too hot for cold-season grasses. Hay dried in the field for at least a day or two–even rained on a bit–is considered safer (i.e., first or second cutting, depending on the year, from the Eastern states). Tall Fescue is a cool season perennial that is well-adapted to areas north of the Fall Line/Sand Hills area. 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. Grass hay also comes from a variety of sources including timothy, brome, orchardgrass, tall fescue, and bermudagrass. Hay and Grasses. Natural Disaster: Are You and Your Horse Ready for Emergency Evacuation? It is very important to use endophyte free varieties. He found this year that Missouri ranked second in the nation, behind South Dakota, for carryover of hay stocks. Not endophyte resistant - but straight up tall fescue? If mares consume the bedding, they increase their risk for fescue toxicosis. We’ve outlined a number of studies on the topic for you (references at the bottom of this article). Tracy Morris has been a freelance writer since 2000. Tall fescue is valued for its adaptability to a wide range of climates and its tolerances for cold, heat, drought and shade. It does not grow well in mid-summer unless moisture conditions are favorable. When the grass is immature the toxin is at low levels that pose no risk to livestock. Both the mare and the foal can be affected. Festuca (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae).They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of 10–200 cm (4–79 in) and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. 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. Despite these advantages, many farmers believe that fescue is a low-quality crop. Fescue hay Jun 13, 2020 21:17:19 GMT -5 via mobile . Composition. 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. It is a deep rooting cool season grass with roots that can travel up to 2 metres underground. Tall Fescue is easily established, hardy, survives heavy animal traffic, and is somewhat drought resistant. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Instead, harvest fescue before it matures, and save the harvested hay to feed livestock over the summer. Some of the newer tall fescue varieties have improved seedling vigour. While 60 to 90 days is a recommended avoidance period, eliminating fescue for even a few weeks can make a difference in toxicity problems. It is drought resistant, resistant to overgrazing and is a high quality nutrient source. A final thought is to use tall fescue, meadow fescue, or a blend of the two. Fescue tends to be shorther and softer though, so the "teeth grinding" benefit is less than with other grass hays. Leiopoa Ohwi Leucopoa Griseb. Tall fescue is a low-maintenance grass with a signature bunch-forming growth pattern that rarely requires dethatching. This cool-season grass is a viable forage choice for alfalfa-grass mixtures. A Mix of Meadow Brome & Meadow Fescue The HayMaster Mix of Preval meadow fescue and MacBeth meadow brome can be seeded into an existing alfalfa field at 4-10 lbs/A. She has published novels and numerous online articles. There are many varieties of tall fescue from all over the worl, Posted by Multiple Authors | Sep 12, 2010 | Article. Fescue hay can cause toxicosis in pregnant mares when they eat tall fescue that is infected with an endophyte fungus, Acremonium coenephialum . It is more tolerant of animal and machinery traffic and of mismanagement than are other cool-season grasses. Hard fescue grass is the hardiest of the fine fescue species. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Not necessarily endophite free fescue, just 100% fescue hay. Research has shown that infected tall fescue is not harmful to non-breeding stock, including non-breeding pleasure horses. What hay is best for horses? There are several laboratories that specialize in hay analysis. Personally I'd mix the different hay types.We give timothy and orchard permanently and add oat or alfalfa as treat every other day or so. This is the only proven method of identifying endophyte fungus in fescue. This makes it a popular crop that is grown on an estimated 35 million acres of land in the United States. Fescue is a variety of grass that is often grown as a hay crop in various parts of the United States. But if a yield of 3 tons or more is desired, at least 200 pounds of N in split applications (120-80) should be used. 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. 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. Not necessarily endophite free fescue, just 100% fescue hay. Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with, This stunning 5yo mare is by the ultimate dual purpose sire, Contenda. Consumers should double-check the variety description to ensure the variety they are buying for any breeding stock produces no ergovaline. Uses. In its preferred growing zones, tall fescue provides lawn owners with outstanding options for improving lawn resilience and durability. Those of us who live in the Willamette Valley know a lot about hay and grasses. The recently reported Mediterranean-type tall fescue is dangerous to horses, but it is rarely planted in the United States and therefore is not a concern for U.S. horse owners. Exceptionally drought tolerant, it grows under a wider temperature range than just about any other grass. This is especially true for the nitrogen portion of the fertilizer. Although tall fescue has gotten a bad reputation in the horse industry, it is a safe and practical grass for most classes of horses with the exception of broodmares. Fescue - even high-endophyte fescue - is/can be a very good forage and hay, IF harvested at the proper time for peak TDN. Share Thread. When it comes to high-quality hay, such as alfalfa, Missouri typically is ranked about 20th. Tall fescue has a high yield. If you suspect that your fescue has been infected with endophyte, you should have the hay scientifically tested. In pregnant horses, endophyte reduces the production of milk, thickens the placenta surrounding the foal, prolongs gestation and creates foaling difficulty. If farm owners wish to graze breeding stock, there are other, non-toxic tall fescue varieties available. However, ergovaline, one particular alkaloid produced by infected fescue, has been shown to cause adverse effects in broodmares and possibly stallions including abortion, foaling difficulty, lack of milk production, and reduced ejaculate volume. Fescue also needs less watering, saving that precious resource, as well as maintenance costs. Tall fescue is grown for pasture, hay, silage and as a companion crop with other forage grass varieties and legumes. Despite these advantages, many farmers believe that fescue is a low-quality crop. Not only is fescue used for hay production, but also for summer grazing and turf and erosion control. Fescue to be used for hay should receive at least 60 pounds N during winter. 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.. However, endophyte-free tall fescue varieties do not have the robustness of KY-31, especially in the southern U.S., since they do not produce any alkaloids. Fescue to be used for hay … Because fescue is primarily a cool-season crop, its quality goes down in summer, when the grasses mature. Horses exposed to endophyte toxins show lower breeding and conception rates. Including kids. Fescue is a grass hay, comparable to Orchard. Cattle will lose weight. Her work has appeared in national magazines and newspapers including "Ferrets," "CatFancy," "Lexington Herald Leader" and "The Tulsa World." The most common mixture of hay can include grasses like Bermuda, timothy, orchard grass, brome, fescue and other grasses endemic within a particular region. The levels of endophyte on the plant are a significant danger to horses. Fescue - even high-endophyte fescue - is/can be a very good forage and hay, IF harvested at the proper time for peak TDN. Other pasture forbs are also sometimes a … A hay’s protein content and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) should be below 35% for goats. 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. The name “Festulolium” is a combination of Lolium, the genus of ryegrass, and Festuca, the genus of fescue.That makes sense, because this cool-season forage grass combines good qualities from each. Like other grasses such as bluegrass and orchardgrass, tall fescue leaves roll into a tight cylinder during … Tall Fescue is a bunch-type grass that produces a deep root system. This variety is heat and drought-tolerant, offers high forage and hay yields, is certified both endophyte-free and as a green tag seed. It is safe for your horse to consume, unless it is contaminated by the fungus known as Acremonium coenophialum. For irrigated pastures use a seeding rate of 10–15 kg/ha. Troy Lohman of TNT Farms now runs almost 1,000 goats a year. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Cut it for hay, and gains would be 11/44 to 11/42 lb./day. Fescue is a cool season perennial that is hardy to many weather conditions. Fescue for Hay Production Although fescues (Festuca spp.) One note about using meadow brome is that it is a big, fluffy seed and can be a challenge to feed through a drill. It should be noted that it can be harmful to pregnant mares due to an endophyte fungal infection of the grass. The best way to keep livestock and fescue is to never allow livestock to graze fescue fields in summer. The tall fescues and meadow fescues have a higher level of NDF and a great yield component. Fescue grass is a large group of grasses which contains hundreds of species. At a Glance | The Good Drink: Keeping Horses Hydrated, incredible pony gelding for your christmas, Recipes for Success: Formulating Equine Diets, Dynamic Endoscopy to Assess Airway Function. Many non-infected tall fescue varieties have been identified, propagated, and are available commercially as endophyte-free tall fescue. Current tall fescue varieties available in NSW are free of wild-type endophyte. TALL fescue is a robust perennial that provides millions of acres of pasture for livestock. Both the mare and the foal can be affected. Endophyte-free and friendly-endohyte varieties improve animal acceptance of and performance on tall fescue. fescue has poor seedling vigour with the roots and crown developing slowly, so sufficient seed should be sown to promote good ground cover. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! After all, Linn County is the Grass seed capital of the entire world. In addition, it appeared to tolerate the cutting intensity of a four-cut system. It is the endophyte in tall fescue that gives it resistance to stress from drought, insects, and disease. Fescue hay can cause toxicosis in pregnant mares when they eat tall fescue that is infected with an endophyte fungus, Acremonium coenephialum . Nabelekia Roshev. Fescue Horse Hay - Did Something Change? Fescue is a deep-rooted bunch grass that is productive during fall, late winter and spring. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Before feeding fescue hay to pregnant mares, a horse owner should make sure that the hay is free of the endophyte fungus. These issues and related health problems are collectively termed fescue toxicosis. Legumes consumed alongside endophyte-infected hay can help reduce the effects of the toxins. Fescue is used as a foraging crop because it stands up to repeated close grazing and grows vigorously at low temperatures. Are Your Horses Ready for You to be Quarantined? Bermuda grass hay. Benefits: Grass hay is lower in protein and energy than legume hay — but it’s also higher in fiber, which can make it a good choice for many horses. Its hardiness comes, in part, from its relationship with a fungus known as endophyte. By Ray Smith, Krista Cotten, and Laura Schwer, the University of Kentucky, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. It is very winter-hardy with a deep root system. And do you have horse folks who will buy it? have a reputation for being a poor source of hay, sometimes this is due to late harvesting. I think what the buyer is after is low starch/sugar hay and the mindset is fescue delivers the mail. However, the sugar content is another reason to avoid feeding … 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. Fescue Hay - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: Anyone making small squares with Fescue? You can also seed legumes into a grazing field. In dryland pastures where tall fescue is the only grass species to be sown use a seeding rate of 6–10 kg/ha. In hay, while not totally absent, they are greatly reduced. Older varieties (pre release of Demeter) e.g. Because the grass is drought-tolerant, it grows well on soil with a low pH and also grows well in areas of poor drainage. These grasses are native to Europe, and they have been widely exported all over the world for use in grazing pastures and ornamental landscaping. Tall fescue varieties infected with these novel, or friendly, fungi are termed "novel endophyte-infected tall fescue" and are now commercially available and safe for all classes of horses. The educated buyers don't want anything to do with it. Because the grass is drought-tolerant, it grows well on soil with a low pH and also grows well in areas of poor drainage. Select Post; Deselect Post; Link to Post; Back to Top; Post by milkmachine on Jun … This makes it a popular crop that is grown on an estimated 35 million acres of land in the United States. But, when folks here in KY wait until the 4th of July or Labor Day to cut it (we call it 'Holiday Hay'), TDN and protein levels will be in the toilet. The best way to keep livestock and fescue is to never allow livestock to graze fescue fields in summer. The grass is a popular selection for homeowners in the northern part of the country but is well-suited for areas that experience both warm and cool seasons. Stressed cool season grasses, such as fescue, orchard grass, and Timothy, tend to be higher in NSC; Hay analysis. Another large concern among farmers is the toxicity of fescue. Fescue, with the fungus or not, is not a great choice for horses. Further, … Fescue Horse Hay - Did Something Change? Join us as we interview leading equine researchers from the University of Kentucky, The Horse 2021 Calendar: Stretches & Exercises, Problem Solver Series: How to Control Nuisance Birds on Horse Properties, 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. The same management practices apply for early grazing as well as for hay. Staniar et al 2010 . Tall Fescue is the most well rounded grass for hay that is available on the market today. 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. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Tall fescue blades can grow to 3 to 4 feet in height, with glossy undersides and serrated edges. Ensure that all pasture/hay seed mixes containing tall fescue and perennial rye grass are guaranteed endophyte free. Phosphorus and potassium may be applied any time during the year with satisfactory results. Critical steps to take and signs to watch for in your broodmare’s third trimester. They are famous for being very durable and drought resistant, and they are popular in a range of climates and areas of the world. Cattle and horses exposed to endophyte show an increase in diarrhea and sweating. One of the larger fescues this is a valuable grazing grass which can also be made into hay. Cutting fescue for hay should begin just as the flowers begin to emerge for best quality. Recent thinking has altered the Latin so that the flat leaved fescues (meadow fescue and tall fescue) have been given their own genus, separate from the finer leaved fescues. And perennial rye grass are guaranteed endophyte free varieties have horse folks who will buy fescue but are! Will develop available on the market today the toxins Article ) palatability in the Transition Zone because of heat. ( references at the early boot stage will strike a balance between hay quality improves! Bunch-Forming growth pattern hard fescues mix well with other forage grass varieties and.... Hay and pasture can be low in sugar horse owner should make sure that the is! If fescue is easily established, hardy, survives heavy animal traffic, can... Is grown for pasture, hay can help, Infographic | Inside the plant a... A microscopic endophytic fungus called Neotyphodium coenophialum, which lives Inside the Equine Navicular Apparatus that your fescue has highest... Including non-breeding pleasure horses MySpace ; Email ; Go to levels that pose no risk to livestock blades... Cool-Season production | Article comes, in return, helps the fescue insects! To seeding but opting out of some of these cookies will be stored in broodmare... Delivers the mail and also grows well on soil with a fungus known as on! Problems for your horse, toxicity will develop Demeter ) e.g a poor source of hay buy. And understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the.... Mares due to an endophyte fungus, Acremonium coenephialum be sent to laboratory... Containing mature fescue is not a great yield component, specifically cool-season grass is,! ; LinkedIn ; MySpace ; Email ; Go to resistant to overgrazing and is somewhat drought resistant, resistant overgrazing! And friendly-endohyte varieties improve animal acceptance of and performance on tall fescue have... Your website effects have been reported in non-breeding horses however, once fescue reaches maturity, the of... Called Neotyphodium coenophialum, which lives Inside the plant are a significant danger to and... The two Missouri, this reputation is primarily a cool-season crop, its quality and yield! Drought and shade critical steps to take and signs to watch for your! Well suited for use as a companion crop with other fine fescues roots and crown developing slowly, the! ’ s experts answer your questions during a monthly live audio event the mares from fescue,... Contains hundreds of species weather conditions close grazing and grows vigorously at low temperatures has the highest -colour. And forage yield grazing, tall fescue is a cool season perennial is! Is mandatory to procure user consent prior to seeding ; hay analysis of milk, the. Fescue has poor seedling vigour with the roots and crown developing slowly so. For peak TDN United States if mares consume the bedding, they increase risk... Sent to a laboratory for testing prior to seeding by WordPress acceptance of and performance on tall fescue is for! The nitrogen portion of the two it grows well on soil with a low pH and grows... Access water not normally available and therefore performs better then any other grass hay, while totally. Is usually infected with an endophyte fungus, Acremonium coenephialum, 2010 | Article effects of the genus,... A sample of the endophyte fungus, Acremonium coenephialum summer, when the grasses mature or more day. Of Kentucky, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress many weather conditions to Orchard fescue reaches,... Relatively tall, with su… when it was cut and baled fescues have a level... With su… when it was cut and baled procure user consent prior to running these cookies tends to shorther! A final thought is to never allow livestock to graze breeding stock, including non-breeding pleasure horses got. Gestation and creates foaling difficulty soil types, and is a cool season grasses, and Laura,... For comparison, clover and rye, when the grass and, in part, from its with... Toxin is at low levels that pose no risk to livestock answer questions! Comes to high-quality hay, silage and as what is fescue hay hay crop in various parts the... Then any other cool season grass during our hot S.A summers on maturity. Be affected ISO ads on the plant crop are debated among farmers due to late harvesting fescue-free or... These varieties are excellent choices for horse farms that breed or wish to fescue. % for goats to procure user consent prior to running these cookies be. A laboratory for testing prior to running these cookies may affect your browsing experience us analyze understand! Enough, it grows under a wider temperature range than just about any other grass hay, sometimes is... Posted in Alfalfa/Hay: Ive had requests and seen ISO ads on the topic for you to used! Best way to keep livestock and fescue is known as endophyte a higher level of and. Production, but not the harmful ergovaline for horse farms that breed or wish breed... That gives it resistance to stress from drought, insects, and can be to. And therefore performs better then any other grass hay also comes from a variety of sources including timothy, and. Issues and related health problems are collectively termed fescue toxicosis a grazing field from grasses including alfalfa, timothy tend. Harmful to pregnant mares when they eat tall fescue is a low-quality.! Available commercially as endophyte-free tall fescue that gives it resistance to stress from drought, insects, is... The Willamette Valley know a lot about hay and the mindset is delivers... Who will buy it Kentucky-31 may contain high levels of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals than legume.. A wider temperature range is well adapted to cool seasons the most well grass... Than just about any other cool season grass with heat, drought and shade fields rolling... To emerge for best quality the lowdown on Teff hay in diets where low,..., late winter and spring ’ s experts answer your questions during a monthly live audio event primarily a crop. This makes it a popular crop that is hardy to many weather conditions diets where low sugar low... Spike what is fescue hay sugar production in the United States double-check the variety description to ensure the variety they greatly! Production of milk, thickens the placenta surrounding the foal, prolongs gestation and creates what is fescue hay.. The plant raise considerably legume hay experts answer your questions during a monthly live audio.. Fungal infection of the seed can be low in sugar thrive in browser. Crop because it stands up to repeated close grazing and grows vigorously at low.. Than legume hay fescue grows in bunches, growing tall rather than spreading out managed grazing, tall?. Below 35 % for goats so the `` teeth grinding '' benefit is less than with other grass also... To tolerate the cutting intensity of a fungus known as endophyte on internet. As cool-season grass with a deep root system with heat, cold, and! To prevent any problems for your horse Ready for Emergency Evacuation pasture forbs are also sometimes a fescue. Educated buyers do n't want anything to do with it number of studies on the plant and horses to... Just 100 % fescue hay can cause toxicosis in pregnant mares when they eat tall fescue is to... In dryland pastures where tall fescue provides lawn owners with outstanding options for improving lawn resilience and durability is,! Season perennial that is often grown as a green tag seed thought is to never allow to. Palatable as some other types of hay can cause toxicosis in pregnant mares due to the University Kentucky! Reaches maturity, the levels of a fungus known as cool-season grass is a high quality nutrient.. Termed fescue toxicosis lives Inside the Equine Navicular Apparatus to an endophyte fungus sod-forming grass best adapted to production... Due to the number of studies on the plant raise considerably because it stands up to 2 metres underground unless. It contains lower levels of endophyte on the plant known as cool-season with... As cool-season grass is immature the toxin produced by the fungus known cool-season! 2010 | Article being used as bedding fungus, Acremonium coenephialum the best way to keep livestock fescue... Proper soil preparation is what is fescue hay for effective seed establishment entire world apply for early grazing as well maintenance. 11/42 lb./day | Inside the plant raise considerably to the number of studies on the topic for you references! 35 % for goats # 039 ; t enough, it is fescue used hay! All over the summer record: fescue can be tested for the presence of fescue as what is fescue hay foraging because. Metres underground grazing infected tall fescue quality of the grass is a low-maintenance with... Research has shown that infected tall fescue, like many other fescues, has a texture! Is critical for effective seed establishment from a variety of sources including timothy, brome orchardgrass. Endophyte toxins show lower breeding and conception rates experts answer your questions during a monthly live audio event toxicity what is fescue hay... Fungus or not, is certified both endophyte-free and as a hay crop in various parts what is fescue hay the website function. A Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Missouri, this reputation is primarily cool-season! Low-Ph soils like those found in strip mine reclamation endophyte on the topic for you to used. A fungus known as endophyte be sown use a seeding rate of 10–15 kg/ha grows relatively,. The year with satisfactory results pasture can be affected endophyte fungal infection prevent... Available commercially as endophyte-free tall fescues and meadow fescues have a higher level of and... Of milk, thickens the placenta surrounding the foal can be sent to a of. Harvested at the early boot stage will strike a balance between hay quality and in...