Open AccessGangrenous ergotism in cattle grazing fescue (Festuca elatior L.) in South Africa : clinical communication
Author(s) -
Charl P. Botha,
T.W. Naudé,
M.L. Moroe,
G. E. Rottinghaus
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of the south african veterinary association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.535
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2224-9435
pISSN - 1019-9128
DOI - 10.4102/jsava.v75i1.449
Subject(s) - grazing , pasture , neotyphodium , biology , festuca , festuca arundinacea , endophyte , agronomy , cattle grazing , outbreak , dry matter , botany , poaceae , lolium perenne , virology
The 1st outbreak of fescue toxicosis in South Africa was recently confirmed in a Brahman herd at Perdekop, near Standerton, in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Within 3 weeks of being placed on a fescue pasture in mid-winter, 50 of 385 cattle developed lameness and/or necrosis of the tail. The farmer had established Festuca elatior L. (tall fescue, Iewag variety) on c. 140 ha for winter grazing. Fescue may be infected by an endophyte, Neotyphodium coenophialum, which produces ergot alkaloids, in particular ergovaline. Ergovaline concentrations in basal leaf sheaths and grass stems collected during the outbreak ranged from 1720-8170 ppb on a dry-matter basis.