We partnered with UK Forage Specialists and Pennington Seed to demonstrate the benefits of replacing KY-31 fescue with an endophyte friendly type for beef production. Two cooperators agreed to participate. One was a cow calf operation while the other backgrounded calves.

Both farms were sampled for endophyte levels in the test field and control fields and will be regularly through the years. The test areas were then burned down and reseeded with Jessup Max-Q fescue.

The cow calf producer will make a first cutting of hay and then graze the field each summer. The hay will be tested for nutrient content and the calf crop recorded. The backgrounder can weigh calves going on and off both the infected control and demo site.

These farms will be monitored and measured for several years and the resulting production differences recorded.