Tall Fescue: Potential Problem for Pregnant Broodmares

It can be difficult to completely remove all endophyteinfected tall fescue from a pasture. Additionally if you have a mix of coolseason grasses in your field be sure to identify what percent is actually tall fescue. If the tall fescue is a small minority of the grass in your field then there is less risk for your broodmares and perhaps the best management strategy is to simply remove them from the field 6090 days prior to foaling.
In summary fescue toxicosis can have serious detrimental effects on pregnant

 broodmares. If you are unsure if your pasture contains tall fescue contact your local extension office who can help identify the grass. If it is confirmed that your pasture contains tall fescue then samples should be sent to a forage lab to be tested. Samples should be taken when the plant is growing rapidly typically early summer and fall though this will depend on the weather and region to ensure you do not get a false low reading on the endophyte analysis. If you breed mares on your farm and have tall fescue be sure to discuss with your veterinarian the risks of fescue toxicosis and the best management strategy for your farm.