Steer Performance from Tall Fescue Pastures with Three Levels of Acremonium coenophialum Infestation
Publication Date
1993
Description
Two replications of 1.2-ha pastures were seeded in 20-cm drill rows to 3 treatments: endophyte-free (E-) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea); tall fescue infested at 80% (E+) with Acremonium cenophialum; a mixed sward of alternate sets of 4 drill rows of E+ and E- tall fescue (E+/E-). Stand density and endophyte levels were monitored every 6 months, remaining at original levels throughout the study. Each pasture had 3 test steers (Bos taurus) with extra steers used as needed to maintain forage height 2.5-7.5 cm. Average daily gain (ADG) ranged from about 300 to over 700 g/day for steers grazing E- pastures and was 100-300 g/day less in E+ pastures. Blood serum prolactin (PRL) concentration in steers grazing E+ was much lower than in steers grazing E- tall fescue. Steers grazing E+/E- were intermediate in ADG and PRL, but effects were less pronounced in spring-summer than in autumn-winter. Forage intake was about 20% greater from Ethan from E+ tall fescue pastures.
Citation
Waller, J C.; Fribourg, H A.; Thompson, R W.; and Chestnut, A B., "Steer Performance from Tall Fescue Pastures with Three Levels of Acremonium coenophialum Infestation" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 3.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session39/3
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Steer Performance from Tall Fescue Pastures with Three Levels of Acremonium coenophialum Infestation
Two replications of 1.2-ha pastures were seeded in 20-cm drill rows to 3 treatments: endophyte-free (E-) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea); tall fescue infested at 80% (E+) with Acremonium cenophialum; a mixed sward of alternate sets of 4 drill rows of E+ and E- tall fescue (E+/E-). Stand density and endophyte levels were monitored every 6 months, remaining at original levels throughout the study. Each pasture had 3 test steers (Bos taurus) with extra steers used as needed to maintain forage height 2.5-7.5 cm. Average daily gain (ADG) ranged from about 300 to over 700 g/day for steers grazing E- pastures and was 100-300 g/day less in E+ pastures. Blood serum prolactin (PRL) concentration in steers grazing E+ was much lower than in steers grazing E- tall fescue. Steers grazing E+/E- were intermediate in ADG and PRL, but effects were less pronounced in spring-summer than in autumn-winter. Forage intake was about 20% greater from Ethan from E+ tall fescue pastures.
