The cool-season grass known as tall fescue plays an important role as cattle feed in the eastern United States. But tall fescue attracts a fungus called Neotyphodium coenophialum. And while the fungus helps fescue to tolerate stress and resist insects, it harms the immune systems of cattle that consume it. The Texas Tech scientists devised a way of feeding the seaweed to grazing cattle by spraying a commercially prepared extract directly on fescue. Pastures are treated once in spring before grazing starts and again in July.
Immune response improves in about four weeks.
Researchers are still trying to prove the connection to seaweed, but cattle grazing on treated grass seem to have increased antioxidant activity, which reduces some aging effects on the meat, which is also better marbled and has increased shelf life. All rights reserved.