What does Neotyphodium Coenophialum cause?

Infection with Neotyphodium coenophialum confers drought and stress tolerance, and pest resistance, to the plant. Tall fescue is a major forage grass, grown on an estimated 35 million acres in the United States as well as extensively in Australia and New Zealand.

What does fescue do to a pregnant mare?

Mares that continue to eat fescue are at greatly increased risk of prolonged pregnancy and a difficult delivery of the overmature foal; thickening of the placenta leading to suffocation of the foal during birth; premature placental separation; and failure to produce colostrum or milk.

What drug could you use to treat a late gestation mare with fescue toxicosis?

Domperidone was administered (1.1 mg/kg body weight, PO, SID) to late gestation mares that were consuming or had recently consumed endophyte-infected fescue forage. Veterinarians and/or horse owners reported the drug to be 94.5% effective in prevention of the signs of fescue toxicosis.

What is fescue toxicosis and what does it do to horses on pasture?

Fescue infected with the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum produces chemicals toxic to horses. Infected pasture and hay is toxic for horses to eat. The toxic chemicals in the stems and leaf sheaths tend to peak in late June and decline as the seeds develop.

How is fescue toxicity treated?

“There is no cure for fescue toxicosis,” Flynn notes. “But using Chaparral to suppress seed heads is one of the most effective management tools available. It can be an excellent option where weed control is needed or where a simplified approach to fescue management is desired.”

What grass is bad for pregnant mares?

Tall Fescue
While tall fescue is not harmful to most horses, pregnant broodmares can develop fescue toxicosis if they eat endophyte-infected tall fescue. Tall fescue is a variety of cool-season grass that is found throughout Pennsylvania and the United States.

What are the symptoms of fescue toxicity in horses?

Symptoms of Fescue Toxicity in Horses

• Overall reduced performance.
• Fever.
• Lameness.
• Sloughing off of the end of the tail.
• Poor weight gai.
• Increased respiration rate.
• Rough coat.
• Excessive salivation.

How long does domperidone take to work in mares?

Lactation can often be stimulated in mares with poor milk production by administration of domperidone twice daily for 2 to 4 days and then once daily for the next 6 to 8 days. Domperidone therapy may be initiated prior to foaling if limited mammary development is noted as a mare approaches her due date.

Can horses eat fescue hay?

Fescue hay Fescue can be fed to horses, but avoid this hay for pregnant mares. Tall fescue is a hardy, popular, cool season perennial grass that can grow on a variety of soils in a variety of climates. It is grown on an estimated 35 million acres in the U.S.

Are Oats good for pregnant mares?

Oats contain around 13% protein, but the protein in oats is low in the essential amino acid lysine which is an essential nutrient for all horses, especially pregnant and lactating mares and growing youngsters, and horses in work.

How long does it take to induce lactation with domperidone?

How long does it take to work? It may take a week before you notice an increase in breast milk supply and two to four weeks to achieve the maximum effect. It is important to keep breastfeeding or expressing during this time.

How do you induce lactation in a mare?

Lactation can be induced in non-parturient mares that have foaled in previous years using a treatment that includes estrogen, progesterone, and a dopamine D2 antagonist (sulpiride or domperidone) [2,3].

What grass makes the best hay for horses?

Best Hay Types for Horses

• 1.) Alfalfa. Alfalfa hay is high-protein legume hay from the ‘pea’ family.
• 2.) Clover. Clover hay is the other legume hay suitable for horses but not as popular with horse owners.
• 3.) Timothy Grass.
• 4.) Orchardgrass.
• 5.) Fescue.
• 6.) Reed Canary Grass.
• 7.) Bluegrass.
• 8.) Bromegrass.