This message is from: "Cherie Mascis" <vikinghorseri...@bellsouth.net>
>It may be a different hay, and not fescue
that causes abortion. I think it is the molds that the particular hay in question grows that causes the abortions. even if your horses aren't pregnant, mold that causes abortion can't be good for non-pregnant horses either.......
It is almost impossible to avoid fescue in most pastures in the East and many other places. Most fescue have endophytes, a type of fungus that helps protect the plant, that although good for the fescue can cause horses and some other mammals to abort, have too large a foal, late pregnancies, have thickened placentas that the foals have a hard time getting out of and it can also cause the mare to not produce enough milk. In some animals it increaser their body temp and may affect fertility.
Most vets feel it's ok for horses to eat when not pregnant (the biggest problem is the toxin binds to sites that pregnancy hormones use)and most feel that the pregnant mares on fescue are ok until 300 days and then should be taken off fescue pasture and hay until after the foal is born. My mare got straight orchard grass or timothy during the last three months of pregnancy.
If you have fescue in your pasture or buy fescue hay, it's better not to let it go to seed. Mow the fescue before it goes to seed and don't buy hay that was cut after going to seed.
Cherie
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