**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** TALL FESCUE [LOLIUM ARUNDINACEUM (SCHREB.) DARBYSH; SCHEDONORUS PHOENIX (SCOP.) HOLUB] IS THE PRIMARY COOL SEASON PERENNIAL GRASS UTILIZED IN THE EASTERN U.S. OCCUPYING MORE THAN 14 MILLION HA. THE MAJORITY OF TALL FESCUE CONTAINS AN ENDOPHYTE (EPICHLOË COENOPHIALA), WHICH PRODUCES ERGOT ALKALOIDS AND CAUSES FESCUE TOXICOSIS. ESTIMATES ARE THAT FESCUE TOXICOSIS COSTS LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS OVER $1 BILLION ANNUALLY. PREVIOUS RESEARCH (NIFA 2015-67015-23218) HAS DOCUMENTED THAT EXPOSURE TO ERGOT ALKALOIDS DURING LATE GESTATION ALTERS FETAL DEVELOPMENT, PLACENTAL FUNCTION, AND LIMITS MUSCLE GROWTH. WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT ENHANCE FETAL DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY POSTNATAL MUSCLE GROWTH. THE RESULTS ARE DIRECTLY APPLICABLE TO THE LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS AS TOOLS THAT CAN BE USED TO INCREASE BIRTH WEIGHT AND MUSCLE MASS.

Clemson University, Clemson SC

Investigators