New fescue to the rescue? - Novel and endophyte-free fescues have shed their toxic past, hold promise for pasture and forage rations

摘要

Tall fescue has been rapped long and hard for harborrng a toxin-producing fungus (endophyte) that hurts palatability and animal performance Old "Kentucky 31" was well known for the problem. But that's ancient history, contends Marvin Hall, Penn StateExtension forage agronomist. "Fear of tall fescue toxins has cost producers far more money than infected tall fescue ever did."