Fescue is a hardy grass that is easily established, tolerates close grazing, stands up to heavy horse traffic, survives drought conditions, and is resistant to weeds, insects and diseases. In addition, it is a good yielding grass that tolerates a wide range of management systems. Unfortunately, fescue is not without its shortcomings. Cattle grazing fescue often develop a chronic, unthrifty condition, especially apparent during the summer months. In addition, some cattle occasionally develop lameness and lose portions of their feet and tails during fall and winter.
Some mares grazing fescue have reproductive problems during the last trimester of pregnancy.
In the mid-1970s, USDA scientists discovered an endophytic fungus that infects the fescue plant. The endophyte was associated with poor gains in beef cattle and replicated research at Auburn University subsequently confirmed the initial findings. New technology allowed scientists to study the DNA composition of the endophyte. As a result of the new studies, the name has changed once again to Neotyphodium coenophialum . Two characteristics of the endophyte have great practical importance.