What is fescue foot

The first signs you may see include shifting weight, soreness in hind limbs, flexing the pasture joints and loose stools. Cold weather enhances the vasoconstrictor effect so it is important to observe cattle daily when they are grazing fescue.

Fescue foot is sometimes confused with injury or foot rot but in these conditions the feet will be warmer than normal, while in fescue foot they will be cold.

Several factors influence the incidence of fescue foot. Pure stands of fescue cause more problems than mixed stands with clovers or other grasses. Stockpiled fescue saved for winter grazing, especially saved spring growth, is more likely to cause problems than fescue that has been grazed. Extended cold spells tend to bring on more problems.

Pastures heavily fertilized with nitrogen cause more problems and toxicity is more common when fescue pastures are drought stressed in the summer and fall. Thin cattle are more likely to experience problems. Cattle with heavy parasite burdens are also more likely to experience problems and a good deworming program will help reduce the incidence of the condition. Fescue foot should be a problem only if you allow it to be. Like most other problems, adequate knowledge, good observation and proper management can keep it from stealing your profits.

For more information about this and other livestock topics, contact the Wildcat District, Altamont office at or you can email me at rkmartin ksu. The news you need, when you need it, by the editors you trust. Get continuing news coverage and educational information on crops, livestock, soil health and other topics you select. All market data is provided by Barchart Solutions. Fescue foot in cattle results from consuming Neotyphodium coenophialum , an endophyte fungus found in tall, mature fescue grasses.

The fungus constricts bovine blood vessels. Many herds do well in pastures with fescue and never experience a problem, but certain individuals are sensitive to the fungus. It appears that cattle with Brahman genes are more likely to develop fescue foot than other breeds.

If a cow exhibits lameness within a few days of turnout in a field containing fescue, suspect fescue foot. It occurs most often in fall and winter. Save Word. Definition of fescue foot. First Known Use of fescue foot , in the meaning defined above. Learn More About fescue foot.

Time Traveler for fescue foot The first known use of fescue foot was in See more words from the same year. Statistics for fescue foot Look-up Popularity. Style: MLA. Endophyte-infected fescue that does not produce ergovaline has not caused fescue toxicosis. Removal of animals from infected fescue pasture reduces urinary ergovaline below detectable concentrations within 48 hr. Ergovaline is an agonist for dopamine D2 receptors, which initiate several physiologic abnormalities.

First, inhibition of prolactin secretion causes agalactia in horses and swine and reduced lactation in cattle. The dopaminergic effect also causes imbalances of progesterone and estrogen, associated with early parturition for cattle and prolonged gestation with oversized fetuses in mares. Some reports indicate an increased incidence of fescue lameness as plants age and after severe droughts. Strains of tall fescue vary in their toxicity eg, Kentucky is more toxic than Fawn because of variation in infection level with the fungus and to high variability within a strain.

In some Kentucky fescues, infection levels cannot be detected. High nitrogen applications appear to enhance toxicity. Susceptibility of cattle is subject to individual variation. Another cause of this is poisoning with C purpurea ergot alkaloids. The back is slightly arched, and knuckling of a hind pastern may be an initial sign. There is progressive lameness, anorexia, depression, and later, dry gangrene of the distal limbs hindlimbs first.

Signs usually develop within 10—21 days after turnout into a fescue-contaminated pasture in fall. A period of frost tends to increase the incidence.