Influence of tall fescue endophyte infection on structural stability as quantified by high energy moisture characteristic in a range of soils

Four methods of assessing structural stability of aggregates which employ different disruptive forces have been examined. Sorptivity (Philip 1957) has been demonstrated to be a useful method of assessing structural stability of soils during infiltration. The results obtained are consistent with those using either the high energy moisture characteristic method of Childs (1940, 1942), the wet aggregate analysis method of Quirk (1950), and the qualitative slaking-dispersion classification of aggregates proposed by Emerson (1967). Using these four methods, one soil was classified as stable, and two unstable to flood irrigation, whereas conventional chemical definitions did not distinguish unequivocally between them.

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Germination rate and seedling vigour of tall fescue as affected by endophyte status and seed density

NZGA: Research and Practice Series ◽

10.33584/rps.13.2006.3109 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 271-274

Author(s):

H.T. Owens ◽

C.H. Finneseth ◽

T.M. Tillery ◽

T.D. Phillips

Keyword(s):

Tall Fescue ◽

Seed Quality ◽

Germination Rate ◽

Storage Conditions ◽

Seed Density ◽

Seedling Vigour ◽

Density Fractions ◽

Endophyte Infection ◽

Early Germination ◽

Air Column

Forage grass seed quality is influenced by plant genetics as well as seed density, storage conditions, age of seed, and endophyte infection status. We used eight seed lots of tall fescue (three cultivars, with natural endophytes, endophyte-free, or novel endophyte) to test the effect of seed density on germination and seedling vigour. Seed lots were separated into nine density fractions using a cylinder air column. Thousand seed weight values were determined. Three runs of four replications of plots consisting of 25 seeds of each entry were seeded in greenhouse experiments to determine seedling mass at 8 weeks after planting. Early germination counts as well as laboratory germination tests indicated significant differences among weight classes in speed of germination as well as seedling vigour. The lightest fraction of seed clearly contained inferior seed, but higher density seed lots tended to have better germination and seedling vigour than lower density ones. Keywords: seed density, seedling vigour, germination, tall fescue, endophyte

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Body weight gain and voluntary feed intake in meat goat does fed endophyte-infected and endophyte-free tall fescue seed

NZGA: Research and Practice Series ◽

10.33584/rps.13.2006.3115 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 427-429

Author(s):

R. Browning ◽

J.R. Author ◽

B. Donnelly ◽

T. Payton ◽

P. Pandya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Body Weight ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Southeastern United States ◽

Voluntary Feed Intake ◽

Endophyte Infection ◽

States Data ◽

Meat Goat

Tall fescue is the primary pasture forage offered to goats in the southeastern United States. Data on how tall fescue endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) affects meat goat performance are lacking. In three summers, yearling does were fed diets containing tall fescue seed to assess the effect of endophyte infection on goat growth and feed intake. In 2004 and 2005, does were fed endophyte-infected (EI) or endophyte-free (EF) tall fescue seeds added to the diets for 10 wk. Feed refusals were weighed daily. The EI diet reduced (P

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173 The effects of Fescue EMTTM Mineral Defense on stocker heifer growth while grazing tall fescue

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz053.135 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 60-60

Author(s):

Anna R Taylor ◽

Randy Dew ◽

Ken Bryan ◽

J Nathan Pike ◽

T Ryan Lock

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Tall Fescue ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Animal Nutrition ◽

Forage Availability ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Endophyte Infection ◽

Completely Randomized Design ◽

Over Time

Abstract Previous research demonstrates grazing tall fescue can decrease reproductive performance and weight gain in cattle. The objective of this study was to evaluate Fescue EMTTM Mineral Defense (Cargill Animal Nutrition, Minneapolis, MN) on summer weight gain in cattle grazing tall fescue pastures in SW Missouri. Heifers (n = 120; initial BW = 236 ± 2.5 kg) were stratified by weight to replicated tall fescue pastures to either a control mineral treatment or Fescue EMT™ Mineral Defense treatment. Forage availability was estimated weekly by ultrasonic sensor. Pasture samples were collected every 21 d and analyzed for ergovaline concentrations. Heifer weights and blood prolactin were measured throughout the trial. Average daily mineral consumption was calculated by mineral offered less residual. Data were analyzed on a pen-mean basis as a completely randomized design using JMP with 6 pens/ treatment and 10 heifers/pen. Prolactin was analyzed as Repeated Measures in JMP. Initial weights between treatments were not different (P > 0.05). Endophyte infection measured 75% or greater in all pastures. No differences were detected in pasture ergovaline (149 ± 19 µg/kg) or pasture availability (2,600 ± 150 kg/ha) between treatments (P > 0.20 at each sampling). Heifer ADG consuming Fescue EMT™ Mineral Defense compared to control mineral was greater at 0.28 kg versus 0.22 kg resulting in total gains of 21.8 kg versus 16.6 kg, respectively (P < 0.05). However, blood prolactin numerically decreased over time in both treatments. Results from this trial demonstrate a 31% improvement in weight gain for cattle consuming Fescue EMTTM Mineral Defense compared with cattle consuming a control mineral while grazing toxic tall fescue.

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