Is fescue grass bad for pregnant mares?
Until they are in the last trimester of pregnancy, mares can safely graze fescue pastures and eat hay that contains fescue. Most experts recommend removing the infected grass and hay from the mares’ diets for about the last 90 days of pregnancy to avoid problems.
Is Equest Pramox safe for pregnant mares?
Equest Pramox Oral Gel has been shown to be safe for use in breeding, pregnant and lactating mares. Administration does not adversely affect the fertility of mares.
Can lactating mares eat fescue?
Endophyte-infected Fescue and Lactating Mares Owners may want to consider giving mares that graze endophyte-infected fescue pastures a higher level of vitamin E the last 30 days of pregnancy and in early lactation.
Why is fescue grass bad for horses?
Fescue infected with the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum produces chemicals toxic to horses. Infected pasture and hay is toxic for horses to eat. The toxic chemicals in the stems and leaf sheaths tend to peak in late June and decline as the seeds develop.
Will fescue cause a mare to abort?
The fungus produces ergot alkaloids, which have harmful physiological effects in grazing animals, including pregnant broodmares. Fescue toxicosis is a major risk if pregnant broodmares consume infected tall-fescue. Some of the many symptoms of fescue toxicosis include abortions, stillbirths, and weak foals.
What is the major cause of fescue toxicity?
Fescue lameness, which resembles ergot poisoning, is believed to be caused by ergot alkaloids, especially ergovaline, produced by the endophyte fungus Neotyphodium coenophialum in tall fescue grass (Lolium arundinaceum, formerly Festuca arundinacea).
Is tall fescue poisonous?
The biggest issue with tall fescue is toxicosis. Endophyte-infected tall fescue produces ergot-alkaloid compounds, which can be a life-threatening toxin within the plant. Although the toxin can cause issues in cattle all year round, the biggest issues tend to stem to the summer months.