Tall fescue summer toxicosis in cattle

[Festuca arundinacea]

Abstract

Cattle grazing tall fescue at times display signs of various toxicity syndromes. Among these conditions are fescue foot, fat necrosis, and fescue summer toxicosis. Fescue foot is a condition which ranges from mild lameness to severe gangrenous lesions of the feet and tail and occurs primarily during cold winter weather. Clinical cases of fat necrosis most often leads to digestive disturbances and reproductive problems in clinical cases. Fescue summer toxicosis is characterized by poor performance and a decreased ability to dissipate body heat on hot summer days. With respect to the summer syndrome, research has not led to specific drug therapy. The most effective treatment remains removal of animals from the inciting pasture. Prudent control is best obtained by effective pasture management including the grazing of mixed swards of fescue and legumes and establishing pastures with varieties shown to be associated with few toxicity problems or by the use of fungus-free seed.