Preg. mare/mare and foal on fescue?

Lucky Duck · 07-27-2005, 03:18 AM

I wasn't sure if this should go in health or here... Anyhow, I visited a local barn a few days ago and was talking about breeding our mare and how our pastures are 'new' (meaning they haven't been pastures for like 20 years or so). Well, the lady told me that pregnant mares and mares and foals shouldn't be on the pasture if it was fescue... why is that? How do I tell if my pasture has fescue?

BestofPrincess · 07-27-2005, 04:08 AM

You have to get the field tested for fescue, more than likely the field has fescue, sense it grows every where, which means you would have to reseed the feild if you want your mare out in it for the last 90-60 days of pregnancy. fescue can cause red baging, stil born, deformities, lack of millk,ect. Now we have had mares with foals at foot out on fescue with no proublems

Blistering Winds · 07-27-2005, 07:18 AM

You can feed fescue...but you must be sure there isn't an endophyte on it. If you planted endophyte free version of the fescue, you should be ok. But any fescue that you are unsure of, you can have the field tested or pull the mare off the last 2 trimesters for safety.

mare and foal is perfectly fine. It only affects pregnant mares, usually in hte last trimester.

High rate of abortion and deformities have been contributed to the fescue.

Bubba · 07-27-2005, 08:31 AM

Ask your vet about this. I don't how to identify fescue, but if you know your pregnant mare is going to be on a fescue pasture (and it's much better to keep her outside and moving for health), you can treat them for the last two months (?) of gestation to prevent the ill effects of endophyte-infested fescue

. Talk to your vet

.

My Mr. Ed · 07-27-2005, 08:41 AM

I've always been told that if it's the regular fescue (not the endophyte free fescue) they are more likely to aborte the foal or for the foal to have deformities.

Lucky Duck · 07-27-2005, 10:24 AM

I'll talk to the vet and see... we would like to keep her at home and on pasture if we breed her. We may be able to just do her a 1 acre pasture if we need to re-seed.

BestofPrincess · 07-27-2005, 11:19 AM

even reseeding a 1 acre field would be good!

07-27-2005, 03:18 AM	#1
Lucky Duck Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,357 Images: 58	Preg. mare/mare and foal on fescue? I wasn't sure if this should go in health or here... Anyhow, I visited a local barn a few days ago and was talking about breeding our mare and how our pastures are 'new' (meaning they haven't been pastures for like 20 years or so). Well, the lady told me that pregnant mares and mares and foals shouldn't be on the pasture if it was fescue... why is that? How do I tell if my pasture has fescue?

07-27-2005, 08:41 AM	#5
My Mr. Ed Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,178 Images: 195 Blog Entries: 5	I've always been told that if it's the regular fescue (not the endophyte free fescue) they are more likely to aborte the foal or for the foal to have deformities. __________________ Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

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07-27-2005, 04:08 AM	#2
BestofPrincess Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: USA MD Posts: 5,175 Images: 579 Blog Entries: 14	You have to get the field tested for fescue, more than likely the field has fescue, sense it grows every where, which means you would have to reseed the feild if you want your mare out in it for the last 90-60 days of pregnancy. fescue can cause red baging, stil born, deformities, lack of millk,ect. Now we have had mares with foals at foot out on fescue with no proublems

07-27-2005, 07:18 AM	#3
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,724 Images: 814 Blog Entries: 16	You can feed fescue...but you must be sure there isn't an endophyte on it. If you planted endophyte free version of the fescue, you should be ok. But any fescue that you are unsure of, you can have the field tested or pull the mare off the last 2 trimesters for safety. mare and foal is perfectly fine. It only affects pregnant mares, usually in hte last trimester. High rate of abortion and deformities have been contributed to the fescue.

07-27-2005, 08:31 AM	#4
Bubba Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 318	Ask your vet about this. I don't how to identify fescue, but if you know your pregnant mare is going to be on a fescue pasture (and it's much better to keep her outside and moving for health), you can treat them for the last two months (?) of gestation to prevent the ill effects of endophyte-infested fescue . Talk to your vet .

07-27-2005, 10:24 AM	#6
Lucky Duck Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,357 Images: 58	I'll talk to the vet and see... we would like to keep her at home and on pasture if we breed her. We may be able to just do her a 1 acre pasture if we need to re-seed.

07-27-2005, 11:19 AM	#7
BestofPrincess Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: USA MD Posts: 5,175 Images: 579 Blog Entries: 14	even reseeding a 1 acre field would be good!