Living here in Oklahoma we can not get away from fescue grass or hay. I have mares due next spring and I plan to pull them off of our pasture 60-90 days prior to foaling and feed them bermuda/bluestem hay the last little bit. Has anyone heard of giving mares a Vitamin E and Selenium shot 2-3 weeks before they foal to help with the side affects of infected fescue pastures. Around here a lot of people never pull thier mares out of fescue pastures, and they have healthy colts. I can not afford to risk losing a colt when I could have done something. Thanks so much, Denise
Noble Knight (206.157.249.118)
Posted on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 02:56 am:
Denise, I have heard very little on the vit E/selenium shot. I know that selenium was used in studies with No Noticeable Beneficial Effect. Selenium can also be toxic. If your mare has average to high natural intake and is given a shot without proper blood analysis for selenium, she can be basically poisoned. I assume people don't want to rely on it, or mess with it (Vit E/selenium) when we know that domperidone is probably the most effective treatment for fescue toxicosis when it comes to mare & foal. It is used 20 days prior to the expected foal date, while the mare is in fescue pasture, and 10 days prior to foal date if they were removed from fescue pastures (60 to 90 days prior to foaling). If the mare foals and is not producing milk, the use of domperidone can be used daily for 5 days to bring the mare into milk production. It usually works within 12 hours. Colostrum would be my concern if your mare is exposed to infected fescue in late pregnancy (not removed from infected pasture or hay-yes it's in the hay too). Obtaining a quart and freezing it would be great insurance. Ask your vet for leads or check this site for links about colostrum if it is a concern. Also seek his advice on the use of domperidone.
If you are concerned with the fescue, which you should be since 85% of the fescue in Oklahoma is infected, contact your local (county-cooperative) extension office, university ag. studies, or State Dept. of Agriculture and see if they can test your grass or suggest someone who will. Toxicity and approximate amount ingested while grazing are your concerns.
Fungal endophyte is thought to only propagate by contaminated fescue seeds. If your pastures tests clean and you don't re-seed, you should be o.k. for awhile. Pastures clear of infected fescue have remained clear even when adjacent to contaminated pastures separated by only a barbed wire fence. Pastured animal dung, seeding contaminated seed, and water seem to be the way this fungus spreads. Confining animals for 72 hours when moving between pastures and seeding only certified "clean seed" seems to be our best defense against the spread. Also eradicating fescue and overcrowding with other forage grasses is more effective but costly.
Studies have found that mares feeding on heavily infected fescue grass pastures right up to foaling resulted in
gestation length was increased by up to 30 days the number of stillborn foals doubled absence of milk after birth was 100% retained placentas were increased more than five times placental weight and thickness increased prolactin and progesterone decreased
Since we are on the topic, maybe it would be appropriate to mention the effects of fescue toxicity on the mares we are going to breed. If exposed to endophyte-infected fescue grass, the number and size of follicles are lower and smaller. First ovulation is also delayed up to 40 days. Decreased pregnancy rates and increased embryonic death rates. Some studies suggest at least a 30% reduction in pregnancy rate. It is considered to have dramatic effects on the cycling of mares.
I sure like your opinion of doing whatever you can for the well being of your mare and foal Denise, I wish you the best.
Denise (64.219.39.167)
Posted on Friday, August 17, 2001 - 07:18 pm:
Thank you so much for the info. I knew that I should pull my mare off the pasture before they foal but I never realized until AFTER I had them bred that it was not good for them to be running on the fescue BEFORE they was bred. All of my mares was bred in June and none of them has shown signs of coming back in, but I have not had them palpated or ultrasounded. If they are not bred it is to late in the year to do so now anyway. When I was visiting with my vet about the mares, he mentioned the Vit E/Selenium. I told him I had read an article on the Okla State web site about domperidone, he said he had never heard of it but was VERY interested in reading it. Thanks again for the very useful info. Denise
Hello. Thank you for that information. I have an urgent question about mares/gestation/milk/fescue. We have 2 pregnant mares. We pulled them off the pasture in Nov. 05 and put them in a dry lot and bought Timothy and Alfalfa Hay (at least thats what its supposed to be) Our first mare due is pretty huge and her udders distended weeks ago and she filled out with milk 1.5-2 weeks ago. There was so much you could see the sack dropped between her 2 rear legs. Thus I started camping out. Last foal she did not show even remotely this much milk before foaling and she foaled on her 339 day. About 1 week ago we started letting her in a small adjoining paddock (40x50ft) It probably has some fescue but shouldn't be a lot and we've continued feeding hay. We did this so she wouldn't foal in the mud(been raining a lot and very cold) if she did it while I was not watching. We are now at day 144 and I guess I'm getting nervous. Her nipples completely filled out about 7 days ago (at least it looks that way to me) but now the big sack that you could see between her legs is smaller though the nipples and such seem bigger. Is this normal or could her milk be drying up? Would this be from it being there so long or from letting her have the paddock back. The past 3 days she's been on it all day and up at night. Still also eating her hay. I did ask a local vet and he said he didn't think it was a problem this late in the game even if she got a little fescue because everything should be developed and her milk was in. Does anyone have any contrary info (based on fact please)? I've been camped out for 3 weeks at night, I'm not obsessive I check if I hear a disturbing noise . I use natural horsemanship solely and spend a lot of time with them she trust me I believe and I don't think she's at all bothered by my prescence, she actually enjoys the currying and ask for more. One last thing, from 3.5 weeks ago til about 1 week ago, we often saw contractions and a couple of times she was even sweaty and we thought for sure it was time but after about 30 mins. she would stop and go about her business. I haven't been able to stand and watch as much lately due to location of new paddock behind barn and the freezing cold (LOL ) BUT I've seen no contractions in several days. Please help if you can.
Christie, I don't really have very much "fact" to share with you as I'm not a vet. However, I can relate as I live in Arkansas and it's virtually impossible for us to avoid fescue as well. I do know that not all fescue is infected. In order to determine this, one would have to have it tested. Infected fescue can affect udder development, lengthen gestation, thicken placenta. However, it sounds as if your mare has bagged up. Often times, a mares udder will fill and go back down, staying full the closer she gets to foaling. Hope any of this helps. Keep us updated, and good luck!
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) BUT I've seen no contractions in several days. Please help if you can.
