What is hot fescue?

Written By Yelena Sheremeta

Hot fescue refers to fescue that is endophyte infected. The endophyte is a fungus that lives between cells and normally found in the stem and seed of the plant this time of year.

Endophyte infected fescue can cause various issues in livestock, including:

  • Losing weight despite eating fine

  • Reproductive challenges

  • Poor offspring survival

  • Loss of blood flow to extremities

How can you manage hot fescue?

  • Rotate cattle between pasture

  • Supplement livestock with higher quality mineral and feed (here’s the best selling mineral supplement!)

  • Replace or dilute infected pasture with Novel variety or other species

  • Intensively manage pasture fertilization

Want to know more? Call us or stop by the Stockton Seed House and see what options will work best for you!

Yelena Sheremeta
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