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 starting in the fall of 2017. 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 have been regularly through the years. The test areas were burned down and reseeded with Jessup Max-Q fescue.

The cow calf producer makes a first cutting of hay and then grazes the field each summer. This year the field averaged 4.5 6'X5' bales. The hay will be tested for nutrient content and the calf crop recorded. The backgrounder has weighed calves going on and off both the infected control and demo site for two seasons now.

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