1. Effects of Endophyte-Infected Fescue on Animal Performance Master Grazer Educational Program

2. Effects of Endophyte on Animals 1.Decreased feed intake 2.Decreased performance Weight gain Weaning weights Milk production 3.Decreased reproductive performance 4.Increased body temperature Master Grazer Educational Program

3. Effects of Endophyte on DMI and Gain of Grazing Steers Master Grazer Educational Program DMI, lbsLbs of Gain Yr. 1Yr. 2Yr. 1Yr. 2 E Free15.813.022060 E Infect.8.89.9158- 11 USDA – Ga. Yr. 1 = 168 days, Yr. 2 = 98 days

4. Gain for Steers Grazing Fescue, Summary of 12 Trials Master Grazer Educational Program E. InfectedE. Free ADG (lbs)0.921.63 Difference0.71 Journal of Animal Science

5. Effect of Endophyte and Intake of Steers Grazing Fescue Master Grazer Educational Program E. InfectedE. Free Organic Matter Intake (lbs) 12.215.0 % Decrease18.2

6. Effects of the Endophyte on Performance (3 year summary) Master Grazer Educational Program E. InfectedE. Free % Pregnant6594 Weaning Weight (lbs)409473 KY Progress Report #306, 1988 pg. 25

7. Endophyte affects young cows more severely Master Grazer Educational Program Age (years) % Pregnancy Rate E. InfectedE. Free 2 and 35282 4 and older6894 Total6389 KY Field Day Report- 1985

8. Effect of % endophyte infection Master Grazer Educational Program Endophyte infected % 80-99%25-60%0-5% Virgin heifers-% pregnant 558296 1 st calf heifers- % rebred 334593 Milk production (lbs/day) 7.914.116.3 JAS 63 (Suppl.1):296, ALA Ag. Exp Station 33(4):15

9. Winter Performance of Heifers Fed Hay from 11/29 to 2/21 Master Grazer Educational Program E. InfectedE. Free Hay Intake (lbs/day) 11.312.0 % Decrease6% in Hay Intake ADG (lbs)0.611.08 KY Progress Report #282- pg. 6

10. Effects of Endophyte Fescue on Grazing Management and Grazing Responses Master Grazer Educational Program

11. Endophyte decreases grazing time Master Grazer Educational Program % time spent grazing E. InfectedE. Free Daylight3452 Dark2214 Total5666 Ref: Agron. J. 76:707

12. ADG of Cattle Grazing E. Infected Fescue with or without Shade from 5/7 to 6/2 Master Grazer Educational Program ADG (lbs/day) CowsCalvesSteers Shade0.241.871.68 No Shade-1.011.460.79 KY Progress Report #417- 1999 pg. 24

13. ADG and Body Temperature of Steers Grazing Stockpiled Fescue from 11/11 to 12/22 Master Grazer Educational Program E. InfectedE. Free ADG (lbs)1.692.35 Body Temp on 12/8104.3103.6 Body Temp on 12/22103.4102.6 KY Progress Report #282, pg. 6

14. Coping with “Dirty Fescue” Master Grazer Educational Program

15. Coping with Dirty Fescue 1. Dilution with clover--- Master Grazer Educational Program

16. Conception Rate of Cows Grazing Fescue over 4 years Master Grazer Educational Program KY 31 E. Infected With Clover Without Clover % Conception91.783.4 ADG- Calves (lbs/day) 1.871.76 KY Progress Report #282 pg.7

17. Coping with Dirty Fescue 2.With spring calving herd--- Graze alternative crops in the summer Examples– warm season grasses (Gamma grass, sorghum-sudan grass, green corn) Master Grazer Educational Program

18. Coping with Dirty Fescue 3. Keep vegetative– seed heads highest concentration Master Grazer Educational Program

19. Coping with Dirty Fescue 4. Replace (especially when reseeding) E. infected fescue with Novel endophyte fescue varieties Endophyte free varieties Other forage crops … Not always feasible … Master Grazer Educational Program

20. Coping with Dirty Fescue 5. Refine management practices –Do not breed cows in summer –Calve in the fall versus spring Master Grazer Educational Program

21. Effect of time of breeding on conception rate with E. Infected Fescue, 2 year summary Master Grazer Educational Program Time of Breeding 4/21 to 6/5 5/21 to 7/6 6/19 to 8/4 % Conception89.278.459.6 KY 1996 Avg # Days with temperature > 90– June =10, July= 19

22. Effect of Calving Season on Cow-Calf Productivity Grazing E. Infected Fescue over 4 years Master Grazer Educational Program Calving Season SpringFall % Pregnant64.482.6 Weaning Wgt (lbs)450486 Lbs calf weaned/cow exposed289401

23. Coping with Dirty Fescue 6.Free-choice Mineral “Fescue Mineral” –Cattle grazing fescue and other cool-season grasses are not receiving adequate Copper, Selenium, Manganese and other trace minerals from the forage. –The use of a high quality mineral supplement will improve performance. –This has nothing to do with overcoming the endophyte. Master Grazer Educational Program

24. Coping with Dirty Fescue 7. Additives MTB-100 (Alltech) Tasco (Acadian AgriTech) Mix-30 (Agridyne) Yeast-based product (ADM Alliance Nutrition) Master Grazer Educational Program

25. MTB-100 Added to Free-Choice Mineral Master Grazer Educational Program Treatment MTB-100Control Weight Change (lbs)- 34- 90 % Pregnant97.888.9 Weaning Wt. (lbs)634606 MO, 2002

26. Tasco Additive Master Grazer Educational Program Trial 1Trial 2 Control+ TascoControl+Tasco Gain (lbs)108120225214 Trial 1: Tasco literature, 60 days grazing Trial 2: JAS 79:1022, 166 avg days grazing

27. MIX-30 on Reproduction of Beef Cows Grazing Endophyte Fescue, Results Master Grazer Educational Program Cattle grazed highly infected fescue and no shade provided Corn-SoyMIX-30 Change in BCS-0.2+0.2 Change in Body Temp. o F+0.15-0.5 Pregnancy %56.475.3 2002 KY Ruminant Nutrition Workshop, p. 7

28. Yeast-Based Product Supplied in Free-choice Mineral Master Grazer Educational Program Control Yeast-Based Product Cow ADG (lbs)0.360.81 Calf ADG (lbs)2.532.74 ADM Alliance Nutrition, MO Field Trial 7/3 to 10/20, 2004

29. Questions??? Master Grazer Educational Program

30. Supplements fed at a daily level of 6 pounds per head Master Grazer Educational Program Trt.ControlCornCGF ADG, lbs1.401.561.82 JAS 76:1691-1701