Specialists and staff from the UK PSS department and the UK Equine Pasture Evaluation Program continued working with a Central KY thoroughbred horse farm to eliminate the effects of toxic, endophyte-infected tall on pregnant mares. As a result of adoption of practices recommended by the UK PSS faculty and staff, this farm was able to have a second successful foaling season. In the first foaling season (2018), no fescue toxicity symptoms were observed in any mares or foals.

Fewer fescue-related foal deaths and associated syndromes resulted in four more live foals and greatly reduced veterinary costs in 2018 compared to 2017. The economic impact of having four more foals was estimated to be $428,000 using the 2015-17 three-year average Keeneland September yearling sale figures.

Similar results were observed for the 2019 foaling season, during which the farm foaled out approximately 20% more mares. Conservative estimates of the total value of the anticipated foal sales and savings in veterinary costs exceed $1,000,000 across both years.