Growth and reproductive performance of beef heifers grazing endophyte-free, endophyte-infected and novel endophyte-infected tall fescue

Drewnoski, Mary E.; Poore, M. H.; Green, J.T.; Hockett, M. E.

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2009.05.003

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Concentrations of CP were 2% units greater (P < 0.05) from SNE100 compared with S75 (Table 4), and were greater (P < 0.05) from F100 and S100 compared with F75 and S75. Forage CP concentrations in the present study were on average 5% units greater than those reported from E+ and NE+ (12.0 vs. 12.3,respectively) pastures during the spring (Drewnoski et al, 2009), but were similar to forage CP concentrations reported by Parish et al (2003) from March through June (20.2%, average) and from September through December (16.0%, average).…”

Section: Available Forage Forage Quality and Total Ergot Alkaloidssupporting

confidence: 73%

“…In those 2-yr studies, spring-calving cows grazing E+ had 19% unit (Peters et al, 1992) and 40% unit (Coffey et al, 2007) reductions in pregnancy rates compared with those grazing E-or NE+, respectively. Others have reported no difference in reproductive performance by spring-calving cows (Watson et al, 2004) or heifers (Drewnoski et al, 2009) grazing pastures with either E+ or NE+ starting in early spring. Calving rates by the fall-calving cows in the present study were similar to those reported by Coffey et al (2005) from fall-calving cows grazing year round on E+ and managed with different rotation schedules (twice monthly or twice weekly) and weaning strategies (early or late).…”

Section: Hay Mineral Offered and Cow And Calf Performancementioning

confidence: 98%

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Performance by spring and fall-calving cows grazing with full, limited, or no access to toxic Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue1

Caldwell

Coffey

Jennings

et al. 2013

Journal of Animal Science

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Replacing toxic, wild-type Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue (E+) with nontoxic, N. coenophialum-infected tall fescue (NE+) has improved cow performance, but producer acceptance of NE+ has been slow. The objective was to compare performance by spring- and fall-calving cows grazing either E+ or NE+ at different percentages of the total pasture area. Gelbvieh×Angus crossbred cows (n=178) were stratified by BW and age within calving season and allocated randomly to 1 of 14 groups representing 5 treatments for a 3-yr study: i) Fall-calving on 100% E+ (F100); ii) Spring-calving on 100% E+ (S100); iii) Fall-calving on 75% E+ and 25% NE+ (F75); iv) Spring-calving on 75% E+ and 25% NE+ (S75); and v) Spring-calving on 100% NE+ (SNE100). Groups allocated to F75 and S75 grazed E+ until approximately 28 d before breeding and weaning, then were then moved to their respective NE+ pasture area for 4 to 6 wk; those allocated to F100, S100, and SNE100 grazed their pastures throughout the entire year. Samples of tall fescue were gathered from specific cells within each pasture at the time cows were moved into that particular cell (∼1 sample/mo). Blood samples were collected from the cows at the start and end of the breeding season. Stocking rate for each treatment was 1 cow/ha. Forage IVDMD, CP, and total ergot alkaloid concentrations were affected (P<0.05) by the treatment×sampling date interaction. Hay offered, cow BW, and BCS at breeding, end of breeding, and at weaning were greater (P<0.05) from fall-calving vs. spring-calving. Cow BW at weaning was greater (P<0.05) from F75 and S75 vs. F100 and S100. The calving season×NE+ % interaction affected (P<0.05) calving rates. Preweaning calf BW gain, actual and adjusted weaning BW, ADG, sale price, and calf value at weaning were greater (P<0.05) from fall-calving vs. spring-calving and from SNE100 vs. S75 except for sale price which was greater (P<0.05) from S75 vs. SNE100. Cow concentrations of serum prolactin at breeding and serum NEFA at the end of breeding were affected (P<0.05) by the calving season×NE+ % interaction. Serum Zn and Cu concentrations from cows were affected (P<0.05) by calving season. A fall-calving season may be more desirable for cows grazing E+, resulting in greater calving rates, cow performance, and calf BW at weaning, whereas limited access to NE+ may increase calving rates, serum prolactin, and NEFA concentrations during certain times in the production cycle, particularly in spring-calving cows.

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Section: Available Forage Forage Quality and Total Ergot Alkaloidssupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Hay Mineral Offered and Cow And Calf Performancementioning

confidence: 98%

Performance by spring and fall-calving cows grazing with full, limited, or no access to toxic Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue1

Caldwell

Coffey

Jennings

et al. 2013

Journal of Animal Science

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“…These include poor weight gain, reduced fertility, hyperthermia, convulsions, gangrene of the extremities, and death [ 3 , 28 ]. Further, reduced feed intake, dry matter digestibility, nitrogen retention, average daily gain, serum prolactin and elevated rectal temperatures [ 29 , 30 ] and reduced growth and prolactin in heifers [ 4 , 5 ] have been reported in steers and heifers, respectively, that were fed endophyte-infected tall fescue. In relatively cool temperatures, Holstein cows fed a total mixed ration with fescue hay containing either low (45 μg/kg DM) or high (782 μg/kg DM) concentrations of ergovaline showed similar intake and milk yields, but milk fat and milk protein were reduced in the high ergovaline diet [ 31 ].…”

Section: Animal Performance and Ergot Alkaloidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mycotoxicosis from grasses and cereals is a recognized animal health issue (Table 1 ). For example, there are numerous reports of fescue toxicosis from the USA [ 4 , 5 ], New Zealand [ 6 - 8 ] and Australia [ 1 , 6 ]. After taking account of impact on equines and on both small and large ruminants, it is estimated that the combined losses due to ergot alkaloid intoxication of animal feed in the USA are likely to exceed $1 billion annually [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ergot alkaloid intoxication in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne): an emerging animal health concern in Ireland?

et al. 2014

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Four primary mycotoxicosis have been reported in livestock caused by fungal infections of grasses or cereals by members of the Clavicipitaceae family. Ergotism (generally associated with grasses, rye, triticale and other grains) and fescue toxicosis (associated with tall fescue grass, Festuca arundinacea) are both caused by ergot alkaloids, and referred to as ‘ergot alkaloid intoxication’. Ryegrass staggers (associated with perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne) is due to intoxication with an indole-diperpene, Lolitrem B, and metabolites. Fescue-associated oedema, recently described in Australia, may be associated with a pyrrolizidine alkaloid, N-acetyl norloline.Ergotism, caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, is visible and infects the outside of the plant seed. Fescue toxicosis and ryegrass staggers are caused by Neotyphodium coenophalium and N. lolii, respectively. Fescue-associated oedema has been associated with tall fescue varieties infected with a specific strain of N. coenophialum (AR542, Max P or Max Q). The name Neotyphodium refers to asexual derivatives of Epichloë spp., which have collectively been termed the epichloë fungi. These fungi exist symbiotically within the grass and are invisible to the naked eye.The primary toxicological effect of ergot alkaloid involves vasoconstriction and/or hypoprolactinaemia. Ingestion of ergot alkaloid by livestock can cause a range of effects, including poor weight gain, reduced fertility, hyperthermia, convulsions, gangrene of the extremities, and death. To date there are no published reports, either internationally or nationally, reporting ergot alkaloid intoxication specifically associated with perennial ryegrass endophytes. However, unpublished reports from the Irish Equine Centre have identified a potential emerging problem of ergot alkaloid intoxication with respect to equines and bovines, on primarily perennial ryegrass-based diets. Ergovaline has been isolated in varying concentrations in the herbage of a small number of equine and bovine farms where poor animal health and performance had been reported. Additionally, in some circumstances changes to the diet, where animals were fed primarily herbage, were sufficient to reverse adverse effects. Pending additional information, these results suggest that Irish farm advisors and veterinarians should be aware of the potential adverse role on animal health and performance of ergot alkaloids from perennial ryegrass infected with endophytic fungi.

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“…It has been estimated that greater than 90% of TF pastures are infected with this endophyte (Kallenbach, 2015) leading to reductions in reproductive performance (Caldwell et al., 2013; Campbell, Backus, Dixon, Carlisle, & Waller, 2013; Porter & Thompson, 1992). In addition, heifers may be particularly sensitive to fescue toxicosis (Burns, 2012; Drewnoski, Oliphant, Poore, Green, & Hockett, 2009; Paterson, Forcherio, Larson, Samford, & Kerley, 1995) making non‐toxic summer forage especially important for heifer development (Keyser et al., 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of eastern gamagrass and a sorghum × sudangrass for summer pasture

et al. 2020

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Improved summer forage production is important in forage systems dominated by cool-season perennial grasses. Improved forage may be especially important for heifer [Bos taurus (L)] development. Therefore, we compared two summer forage options, a perennial, eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.], and a widely used summer annual, sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] × sudangrass [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan] hybrid, as options for providing summer pasture for bred heifers (418 ± 31 kg initial body mass). We used put-and-take grazing (i.e., routine adjustment of stocking to maintain target canopy conditions) to evaluate pasture characteristics, animal performance, and pasture productivity, 2013-2015. Crude protein of eastern gamagrass (EG) exceeded (P = 0.01) that of the sorghum × sudangrass hybrid (SXS), but FM, ADF, and NDF were all similar between the two forage types. Although SXS provided greater ADG (P = 0.03) in two of three years, EG provided twice as many AD ha −1 (P = 0.03) and consequently, greater (P < .001) GAIN in two of three years. Calving rates (89%) did not differ between the two forages. Increased N rates (67 vs.137 kg ha −1 N) did not alter EG pasture characteristics but appeared to improve GAIN (279 and 355 kg ha −1 , respectively). Cost of gain was greater for SXS in 2014 and 2015 ($1.71 and $1.64 kg −1 ) than for EG ($0.62 and $0.62 kg −1 ). Both EG and SXS could be useful for providing summer forage for bred heifers.

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Growth and reproductive performance of beef heifers grazing endophyte-free, endophyte-infected and novel endophyte-infected tall fescue

Cited by 15 publications

References 27 publications

Performance by spring and fall-calving cows grazing with full, limited, or no access to toxic Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue1

Performance by spring and fall-calving cows grazing with full, limited, or no access to toxic Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue1

Ergot alkaloid intoxication in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne): an emerging animal health concern in Ireland?

Evaluation of eastern gamagrass and a sorghum × sudangrass for summer pasture

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