A central Kentucky thoroughbred horse farm experienced a high incidence of fescue toxicosis symptoms in pregnant and foaling mares during early 2017. The UK Plant and Soil Science Forage Group was contacted by the farm at the advice of the consulting veterinarian. After a farm visit, the farm agreed to a program of pasture evaluation. Fields were samples for species composition, endophyte infection level, and ergovaline content. After being presented results showing damaging levels of infected tall fescue, the farm began an aggressive program of fescue eradication in some fields and complete re-establishment in two others. They also changed their pasture usage for foaling mares in the 2018 season to avoid exposure to toxic tall fescue.

As a result of the knowledge of fescue presence and fescue eradication in selected pastures, the farm was able to avoid exposing pregnant mares to toxic tall fescue. As a result, the farm experience no difficulty in foaling (dystocia) and fewer thickened placentas (red bags) and no foal losses due to tall fescue in 2018. Dystocia and thickened placentas are indicators of fescue toxicity in pregnant mares.

Fewer fescue-related foal deaths and associated syndromes resulted in four more live foals and greatly reduced veterinary costs in 2018 compared to 2017. This effect was also seen with the foal crop 2019. 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.

Finally this success was repeated with the 2020 foaling season. The total economic benefit to this farm from adopting UK forage management recommendations exceeds $1.4 million dollars over the three foaling seasons.