Journal of Animal Science, Vol 68, Issue 6 1693-1701, Copyright © 1990 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Effects of increasing dietary levels of endophyte-infected tall fescue seed on diet digestibility and ruminal kinetics in sheep

S. M. Hannah, J. A. Paterson, J. E. Williams, M. S. Kerley and J. L. Miner
Dept. of Anim. Sci., University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.

Three experiments were conducted with sheep to determine the effects of 1) increasing the dietary concentration of ergovaline and 2) environmental temperature on site of nutrient digestion and ruminal passage rates. Dietary ergovaline concentration, a measure of endophyte-alkaloid concentration, was modified by substituting ergovaline-infected for noninfected tall fescue seed. Ruminal and total tract OM, NDF and cellulose digestibilities were less (P less than .10) and ruminal fluid dilution rate (%/h) and fluid outflow (liters/h) were greater (P less than .05) when diets contained 3 ppm ergovaline than when diets contained 0 ppm ergovaline. An interaction (P less than .05) between dietary ergovaline concentration (0 vs 1.5 ppm) and environmental temperature (27 vs 34 degrees C) was found for OM intake and NDF and cellulose digestion. Ruminal fluid dilution and outflow rates decreased (P less than .01) even though water consumption increased (P less than .01) with increasing temperature. Rectal temperature increased (P less than .01) when ergovaline and ergotamine tartrate were fed and when sheep were exposed to increased environmental temperature. Under the dietary (and environmental) conditions described, our results suggest that alkaloid(s) present in infected tall fescue seed inhibit ruminal fiber digestion and increase the sensitivity of sheep to heat stress.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. L. Stewart Jr., G. Scaglia, O. A. Abaye, W. S. Swecker Jr., G. E. Rottinghaus, H. T. Boland, M. McCann, and J. P. Fontenot Estimation of Forage Intake by Steers Grazing Three Fescue Types and Determination of Alkaloids in Ruminal Fluid and Forage Professional Animal Scientist, December 1, 2008; 24(6): 578 - 587. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. L. Jones, J. L. Schulze, J. R. Strickland, D. L. Cross, P. Burns, R. M. Gilley, E. Bassoo, K. B. Hart, D. L. Thompson Jr., and S. S. King Evaluation of Domperidone Dosages and Delivery Methods for the Treatment of Fescue Toxicosis in Beef Heifers Professional Animal Scientist, August 1, 2008; 24(4): 342 - 348. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Flores, W. K. Coblentz, R. K. Ogden, K. P. Coffey, M. L. Looper, C. P. West, and C. F. Rosenkrans Jr. Effects of Fescue Type and Sampling Date on the Nitrogen Disappearance Kinetics of Autumn-Stockpiled Tall Fescue J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2008; 91(4): 1597 - 1606. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Merrill, D. W. Bohnert, D. L. Harmon, A. M. Craig, and F. N. Schrick The ability of a yeast-derived cell wall preparation to minimize the toxic effects of high-ergot alkaloid tall fescue straw in beef cattle J Anim Sci, October 1, 2007; 85(10): 2596 - 2605. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Flores, W. K. Coblentz, R. K. Ogden, K. P. Coffey, M. L. Looper, C. P. West, and C. F. Rosenkrans Jr Effects of Fescue Type and Sampling Date on the Ruminal Disappearance Kinetics of Autumn-Stockpiled Tall Fescue J Dairy Sci, June 1, 2007; 90(6): 2883 - 2896. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. M. De Lorme, S. L. Lodge-Ivey, and A. M. Craig Physiological and digestive effects of Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue fed to lambs J Anim Sci, May 1, 2007; 85(5): 1199 - 1206. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. K. Coblentz, K. P. Coffey, T. F. Smith, D. S. Hubbell III, D. A. Scarbrough, J. B. Humphry, B. C. McGinley, J. E. Turner, J. A. Jennings, C. P. West, et al. Using Orchardgrass and Endophyte-Free Fescue Versus Endophyte-Infected Fescue Overseeded on Bermudagrass for Cow Herds: II. Four-Year Summary of Cow-Calf Performance Crop Sci., July 25, 2006; 46(5): 1929 - 1938. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Burns and D. S. Fisher Intake and Digestion of 'Jesup' Tall Fescue Hays with a Novel Fungal Endophyte, without an Endophyte, or with a Wild-Type Endophyte Crop Sci., December 2, 2005; 46(1): 216 - 223. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. P. Coffey, W. K. Coblentz, D. A. Scarbrough, J. B. Humphry, B. C. McGinley, J. E. Turner, T. F. Smith, D. S. Hubbell III, Z. B. Johnson, D. H. Hellwig, et al. Effect of rotation frequency and weaning date on forage measurements and growth performance by cows and calves grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures overseeded with crabgrass and legumes J Anim Sci, November 1, 2005; 83(11): 2684 - 2695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. K. Matthews, M. H. Poore, G. B. Huntington, and J. T. Green Intake, digestion, and N metabolism in steers fed endophyte-free, ergot alkaloid-producing endophyte-infected, or nonergot alkaloid-producing endophyte-infected fescue hay J Anim Sci, May 1, 2005; 83(5): 1179 - 1185. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Fisher, D. W. Bohnert, C. J. Ackerman, C. S. Schauer, T. DelCurto, A. M. Craig, E. S. Vanzant, D. L. Harmon, and F. N. Schrick Evaluation of perennial ryegrass straw as a forage source for ruminants J Anim Sci, July 1, 2004; 82(7): 2175 - 2184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Gadberry, T. M. Denard, D. E. Spiers, and E. L. Piper Effects of feeding ergovaline on lamb performance in a heat stress environment J Anim Sci, June 1, 2003; 81(6): 1538 - 1545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]