Fescue Endophyte: History and Impact on Animal Agriculture

Stuedemann, J. A.; Hoveland, C. S.

doi:10.2134/jpa1988.0039

Cited by 271 publications

(179 citation statements)

References 23 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

171

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…18 The fungus is not outwardly visible on the plant, 2 but it produces ergot alkaloids that cause the clinical signs in animals. 8 Thus, it is difficult to diagnose whether the clinical signs are associated with fescue toxicosis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urinary Alkaloid Excretion as a Diagnostic Tool for Fescue Toxicosis in Cattle

et al. 2000

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract.Fescue toxicosis research studies have often included serum prolactin as a physiologic index of the disorder. Serum prolactin has not been used as a clinical measure of fescue toxicosis because of variation associated with sex and physiologic condition of the animal and climatic and seasonal factors. The primary excretory route of the alkaloids responsible for this toxicosis is the urine. Three pasture experiments were conducted to examine serum prolactin and urinary ergot alkaloid variability among steers continuously grazing endophyte-infected (Eϩ) or endophyte-free (EϪ) tall fescue and among steers that were switched from one pasture form to the other. A fourth grazing experiment was used to examine how to best to manage the steers prior to sampling for urinary ergot alkaloid excretion. Coefficients of variability for urinary alkaloid excretion were consistently lower (46-65%) than serum prolactin (64-142%). Urinary alkaloid excretion patterns changed within 12 hours following switching steers from Eϩ to EϪ pasture or visa versa, but serum prolactin was recalcitrant to change. Because it is less variable and more dynamic than serum prolactin, urinary alkaloid excretion can be used for health assessment of steers grazing Eϩ and EϪ pastures. Regression analysis established a quadratic relationship between alkaloid excretion and average daily weight gain, with a regression coefficient of 0.86. Urinary alkaloid analysis was useful in determining whether cattle were consuming toxic tall fescue.Diagnostic tools used to determine potential for toxicity or toxic effects of endophytic fungus-infected tall fescue include plant (pasture or hay) sampling for ergot alkaloids, sampling the plant for endophyte, or sampling serum from afflicted animals for suppressed prolactin, alkaline phosphatase, or cholesterol. There has been no established cause/effect relationship between serum alkaline phosphatase or serum cholesterol and fescue toxicosis; hence, their use as physiologic markers may be compromised for the disorder. 3,8,11,19 Prolactin is highly variable depending on animal gender, 15 reproductive state, 1 day length, 10 season of the year, 14 and temperature. 21 Therefore, serum prolactin, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase have liabilities as markers for toxicosis. However, in research studies with proper controls, serum prolactin is the most commonly analyzed physiologic marker used to confirm physiologic effects of fescue toxicosis. 4,5,9,12,16 Analysis of plant tissue for alkaloids or endophyte is easily performed, 6,7 but the assumption that animals are consuming the toxic forage may be incorrect if pastures are not highly infected or if other plant species are present in the pasture. Therefore, a direct diagnostic tool is needed to determine if ergot alkaloids in pasture plants Received for publication June 17, 1999. are in fact ingested by the animal and whether ergot alkaloids can be used as an index of fescue toxicosis. In a recent study, 17 urinary and biliary excretion of ergot alkaloids from...

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urinary Alkaloid Excretion as a Diagnostic Tool for Fescue Toxicosis in Cattle

et al. 2000

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The impact or effects of consumption of E+ tall fescue have been reviewed , Stuedemann and Hoveland 1988, Schmidt and Osborn 1993. Readers are referred to those reviews for specific information on the impact of E+ tall fescue on animal response.…”

Section: Animal Toxicosis-tall Fescuementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Affected animals have an unthrifty appearance, long rough hair coats, excessive salivation and elevated respiratory rates and spend less time grazing during daylight hours (Stuedemann and Hoveland 1988). Calving rates are also decreased (Porter and Thompson 1992) as well as milk yield in dairy cows (Strahan et al 1987).…”

Section: Animal Toxicosis-tall Fescuementioning

confidence: 99%

Anti-quality factors associated with alkaloids in eastern temperate pasture

Thompson¹,

Stuedemann²,

Hill³

2001

REM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The greatest anti-quality associated with eastern temperature pasture grasses is the result of ergot alkaloids found in endophyte-infected (Neotyphodium ceonophialum) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) The relationship between the grass and the endophyte is mutalistic with greater persistence and herbage mass as a result of the endophyte. Ergot alkaloids reduce growth rate, lactation, and reproduction in livestock. Significant effects are the result of elevated body temperature and reduced peripheral blood flow such that necrosis may result. Perturbations also occur in a variety of body systems. Planting new pastures with seed containing a "non-toxic" endophyte appears to be a potential solution. Ergotism results from the ingestion of the scelerotia of Claviceps purpurea containing ergot alkaloids found on seed heads. Ergotism resembles the effects of endophyte-infected tall fescue. Endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) contains ergot and lotirem alkaloids that result in reduced growth and tremors. Reed canarygrass (Phalaris Anundinacba L.) contains tryptamine, hordenine and gramine alkaloids that reduce growth. Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiplorum L. may contain galls with cornetoxins which result in neurological signs.

show abstract

“…However the E+ tall fescue may cause toxicosis problems in the cattle, known as fescue toxicosis. According to Stuedemann and Hoveland (1988) and Seman et al (1999), fescue toxicosis affects adversely cattle performance and alters ruminant grazing behaviour. Many studies have documented adverse effects of endophytic pastures on insect herbivores.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in the fly-load of Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae) on cattle is modified by endophyte infection of pastures

Parra¹,

Rojas²,

Catrileo³

et al. 2013

Electron. J. Biotechnol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The horn fly, Haematobia irritans, is an obligate bloodsucking ectoparasite of pastured cattle and is a major pest of livestock production in North and South America and Europe. In this study, we investigated the potential to use cattle pastures, infected with non-toxic, "friendly" fungal-endophyteinfected (E+) tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb., as a strategy for reducing horn fly loads in cattle, and to evaluate the possible bioinsecticide effect on horn fly larvae. Results: When cattle grazed in E+ tall fescue, a decrease in fly-load was observed, compared with other pastures (endophyte-free (E-) pastures). The infestation of horn fly load decreased according to an increase in the percentage of endophyte present in the different pastures (0 to 100%). Moreover, two groups of animals with significant differences in the fly-load (high and low fly-load) in the same herd were observed (P < 0.05). Additionally, it was possible to determine a bioinsecticide effect of cattle dung, upon horn fly larvae (80%), from animals fed E+ tall fescue. Conclusions: These results constitute the first report on the potential for exploiting pasture management for controlling 1) horn fly-loads on cattle and 2) the normal development of horn fly larvae. In conclusion, this information provides preliminary understanding of the role of cattle pasture diet management for controlling horn fliesas part of an integrated pest management strategy for this major pest of farmed livestock.

show abstract

Fescue Endophyte: History and Impact on Animal Agriculture

Cited by 271 publications

References 23 publications

Urinary Alkaloid Excretion as a Diagnostic Tool for Fescue Toxicosis in Cattle

Urinary Alkaloid Excretion as a Diagnostic Tool for Fescue Toxicosis in Cattle

Anti-quality factors associated with alkaloids in eastern temperate pasture

Differences in the fly-load of Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae) on cattle is modified by endophyte infection of pastures

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About