|
Fescue Foot Forecast
ELDON COLE
MT. VERNON, MO.
Over the years, it seems fescue foot outbreaks occur right after Thanksgiving. Research has concluded the toxins, like ergovaline escalates in rank Kentucky 31 fescue, fall growth. This is especially true if high levels of nitrogen from commercial fertilizer or poultry litter has been applied in the fall. It seems to be worst following a dry, late summer.
Well, we did have a dry late summer in much of this area, but we didn’t see a lot of stockpiled Ky31 growth. The other ingredient is very cold weather in late November and early December. Since rank growth didn’t occur in most pastures in the area this fall, I doubt if we see a serious problem with fescue foot this year.
Of course, there’s an old adage that “all signs fail in dry weather” and we are still generally dry. That will be my excuse if you witness true fescue foot between now and January 1.
I encourage you to still keep your eyes open beginning now for cattle that are ouchy on their rear feet and legs. There may be some swelling in the ankle and dew claw area and the limping will be mostly seen early in the morning when the cattle come off their beds. Some have described their appearance as “acting like they’re walking on eggs”. They may stop and flip their rear leg and possibly reach around and lick their lower limb. They obviously have discomfort from the poor circulation in that extreme part of their body.
What do you do if you suspect you have one or more animals affected? The first thing is get them off the pasture they’ve been in for a few weeks. You just need to remove the affected ones at first and continue to watch for other suspects each day. You may think they need to be given antibiotics and if you do that and they get better then maybe it was true foot rot and not fescue foot.
Fescue foot doesn’t affect a high percentage of the herd, but I’ve witnessed up to 20 percent may show the classic symptoms. A small percentage may actually develop a ring around the top of the hoof, even up higher on the lower leg where the skin breaks and the lower portion of the leg is lost.
The true fescue foot dilemma is a gruesome mess but may not be as much of an economic loss as many herds experience year in and year out with poor animal gains, reproduction losses, market discounts for unthrifty appearance.
If you choose to live with “hot” fescue, then dilute it with other feeds, like legume pasture and hay. The silver bullet has not been found as a cure for fescue toxicosis. I continue to add to my list of “cures or remedies” given by lots of folks. They range from farmers, veterinarians, feed reps, university researchers, extension folks, breed reps and the list is now up to 128.
If you have a remedy that you think is not on my list, let me know. ∆
ELDON COLE: Extension Livestock Specialist, University of Missouri
|
|