What's the Danger?

• Most fescue grass in the United States is infected with a fungus that produces alkaloids toxic to animals. The major effects of the toxin are seen in broodmares, with problems occurring late in gestation.
  
  

Gestational Difficulties

• Fescue toxicity can cause abortion at or around the time a mare is expected to foal. Conversely, fescue toxicity can cause a mare to carry a foal for a month or two longer than normal. This prolonged gestation results in a larger foal and more difficult birth, a condition called dystocia.
  
  

Abnormalities

• Fescue toxicity can result in placental abnormalities such as a thickened placenta. Retained placentas occur in more than 50 percent of broodmares afflicted with fescue toxicity.
  
  

Danger to the Foal

• Many broodmares with fescue toxicity exhibit agalactia, failure to develop normal mammary glands. This means the mare produces little or no milk for her foal.
  
  

Other Maladies

• Broodmares with fescue toxicity have decreased levels of prolactin and progesterone. Some may not exhibit typical signs of foaling.