OLD SERA8: Fescue Endophyte Research and Extension (IEG-37)
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
OLD SERA8: Fescue Endophyte Research and Extension (IEG-37)
Duration: 10/01/1991 to 09/30/2009
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Project's Primary Website is at http://animalscience.ag.utk.edu/SERA-IEG8/default.htm (direct link can be found under LINKS)
Tall fescue is the most widely grown cool-season pasture grass in the U.S. Over 35 million acres of tall fescue are infested with Neotyphodium coenophialum, a fungal endophyte that costs cattle producers $560 million /year in reduced calf numbers and $233 million /year in reduced weaning weights. Endophyte-infected tall fescue causes cattle to experience reduced growth rate, increased reproductive problems, and poor milk production. Additionally, it causes similar problems in mares, including production of dead foals and other foaling difficulties as well as agalactia.
Despite its toxic endophyte, tall fescue remains the mostly widely grown pasture grass from eastern edge of North Carolina west to eastern Oklahoma and from central Alabama north to northern Missouri. Its popularity with livestock producers is based on its wide range of adaptation, its long growing season, and its persistence. Tall fescue persists by withstanding stresses from drought, disease, and insects.
In the mid-1980's, endophyte free tall fescues were released. Because they did not contain the toxic endophyte, these cultivars increased steer weight gains 30 to 100 percent. The endophyte-free tall fescues also provided normal conception and milk production. However, the new cultivars were less persistent. Research in the last decade has shown that the endophyte-grass association is muturalistic. Tall fescue provides the host for the endophyte, while the endophyte helps tall fescues tolerate drought, resist pests, survive grazing and compete in a mixed sward.
Much remains to be done to understand the mechanism(s) of endophyte toxicity and to assist producers in management of endophyte-infected pastures. New technologies in which the characteristics of the endophyte are being investigated as well as the transfer of non-toxic novel endophytes into endophyte-free plants should lead to long term solutions for fescue toxicosis but with a very desirable plant. It is though the efforts of the participants of this group that four international symposiums on grass/endophyte interaction have been held. The last one being held in September 2000 in Soest, Germany.
Objectives
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To exchange research information, techniques, and ideas.
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To exchange technology transfer information and to develop management programs appropriate for utilization of endophyte-infected grasses under different applications.
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Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- The incorporation of new ideas and information into research and extension activities undertaken to improve the utilization of tall fescue in animal production systems.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
The basic format of the meeting is an institution-by-institution presentation. Extension fescue management recommendations are presented and the feasibility of developing common recommendations is explored. Researchers are encouraged to review the problem to identify areas that need additional or new research approaches. The meeting is constructed to maximize the exchange of ideas and information
Internal and External Linkages: Participants are research scientist, extension specialist, and industry representatives associated with tall fescue toxicosis problems.
Target Audiences: The target audience for this group is first the participants in the group since it is an information exchange group. Secondly the collaborators of the participants back in the respective institutions. Thirdly, the programs of the participants and their collaborators influence in their respective institutions.
Organization/Governance
Literature Cited