Fpi2S6ndnganeeadopayeniectedtaltescue Egpnne6caelhi6e8oncatiegrazing1oac Management Options for Combating Fescue Toxicosis tall fesng cl ers or otn appropriate.however.when pasture terrain or other Sodseeding and Supplementation factors make renovation with a non-toxic forage impractical. Some of the management techniques promoted Research indicates that mineral supplem ntation d。 eping tal corrects mineral deficiency(not toxicity)problems on toxic E+tall fe of s not correc th here sses may antioxidant vitamins,vasodilating vitamins, Table 1.Effects of white clover on steer growth performance in toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures Toxic Endo Forage Steer average daily Clover% Clover% gain,Ib Grass alone 0 0.79 0 2.03 Grass+Regal white clover 147 0to 2 1.96 Grass+Durana white clover 35t054 2.55 35t053 3.21 Source:J.H.Bouton.2002.29th Annual Conference Proceedings.Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council. Figure 2. Cattle on toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue pasture standing in a pond. Management Options for Combating Fescue Toxicosis Sodseeding and Supplementation Some of the management techniques promoted in the past to address the problem of fescue toxicosis included keeping tall fescue seedheads clipped, reducing late spring nitrogen fertilization, sodseeding toxic tall fescue pastures with legumes or other grasses and supplementing livestock with non-toxic hay. While there is value in implementing these practices, significant production losses may Figure 3. Missing tail switches on cattle grazing toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue. still occur as long as toxic E+ tall fescue is included in the diet (Table 1). Sodseeding clovers or other forages into a toxic E+ tall fescue pasture may be appropriate, however, when pasture terrain or other factors make renovation with a non-toxic forage impractical. Research indicates that mineral supplementation corrects mineral deficiency (not toxicity) problems on toxic E+ tall fescue pastures. However, mineral supplementation does not correct the negative impacts of fescue toxicosis on animal growth performance. Studies have evaluated the use of antioxidant vitamins, vasodilating vitamins, Table 1. Effects of white clover on steer growth performance in toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures Forage Toxic Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue Endophyte-Free Tall Fescue Clover % Steer average daily gain, lb Clover % Steer average daily gain, lb Grass alone 0 0.79 0 2.03 Grass + Regal white clover 5 to 7 1.47 0 to 2 1.96 Grass + Durana white clover 35 to 54 2.55 35 to 53 3.21 Source: J. H. Bouton. 2002. 29th Annual Conference Proceedings. Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council