Midwest forage specialists warn of ergot infestations in pastures

University of Missouri livestock and forage specialists are reporting ergot infestations that can cause major losses in livestock, said University of Missouri Extension state specialist in veterinary toxicology and animal health Tim Evans.

Ergot is a toxic fungus that infects the seed heads of many grasses and some cereal grains. It can cause severe illness and even death in livestock, especially cattle, Evans says in a news release.

“You take a hot day and combine ergot, it’s likely going to be a problem for animals,” he says.

MU Extension state forage and grazing specialist Harley Naumann points out that cool-season grasses that have already produced a first cutting of hay will no longer produce seed heads and are not susceptible to infection by ergot.

“It’s easy to forget that one reason for making hay earlier in the season is to eliminate the chance of it being infected by ergot,” Naumann says.

Subsequent growth of these grasses will remain in the vegetative state and not produce seed heads.

Plentiful first-cutting of hay and rain delays may lower demand in the hay market in non-drought years, but that should not deter forage producers from mowing remaining pastures of cool-season grasses that have not experienced a first cutting yet because of an already ample supply of first-cutting hay and the likely poorer quality of hay produced at this time.

“In predominantly tall-fescue pastures which have not been previously mowed, make hay anyway, leaving it at least 3 to 4 inches tall,” says Evans. “Clipping seed heads forces most of the ergot to drop to the ground. Baling also reduces the number of seed heads.”