Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

Greatly improved performance has been reported from cattle grazing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) free of Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Garns compared to those grazing heavily infected tall fescue. However, cultivar effects and the effects of intermediate infection levels have not been adequately explored. Therefore, a 3-year grazing study was conducted in west-central Alabama to compare beef steer performance on non infected 'AU Triumph' and 'Kentucky 31' tall fescue at three levels of A coenophialum infection. A. coenophialum infection levels of 0% on AU Triumph and 1, 34, and 90% on Kentucky 31 resulted in average daily gains (ADG) of 0.95, 0.98, 0.80, and 0.64 kg, respectively. Stocking rate was highest on Kentucky 31 at the 90% infection level. Gains ha-1 for the above treatments were 581,517, 445, and 414 kg, respectively. The low production shown for the 34% infected Kentucky 31 was due to reduced ADG combined with a low stocking rate. The 12% higher gain ha-1 on AU Triumph than on A. coenophialum free Kentucky.31 was a result of more forage production.

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Seasonal Beef Performance on Au Triumph and Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue at Three Fungal Endophyte Infection Levels

Kyoto Japan

Greatly improved performance has been reported from cattle grazing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) free of Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones and Garns compared to those grazing heavily infected tall fescue. However, cultivar effects and the effects of intermediate infection levels have not been adequately explored. Therefore, a 3-year grazing study was conducted in west-central Alabama to compare beef steer performance on non infected 'AU Triumph' and 'Kentucky 31' tall fescue at three levels of A coenophialum infection. A. coenophialum infection levels of 0% on AU Triumph and 1, 34, and 90% on Kentucky 31 resulted in average daily gains (ADG) of 0.95, 0.98, 0.80, and 0.64 kg, respectively. Stocking rate was highest on Kentucky 31 at the 90% infection level. Gains ha-1 for the above treatments were 581,517, 445, and 414 kg, respectively. The low production shown for the 34% infected Kentucky 31 was due to reduced ADG combined with a low stocking rate. The 12% higher gain ha-1 on AU Triumph than on A. coenophialum free Kentucky.31 was a result of more forage production.