The productivity and forage quality of pastures with less than 30% endophyte infestation can be improved by establishment of legumes such as clovers (Hoveland et al., 1981), fertilization, and appropriate grazing- and hay-management practices. Many experiments have shown that white clover (T. repens L.) content of the stand of at least 10%, but preferably around 25 to 30%, has beneficial effects on animal performance and that clover can offset the deleterious effects of endophyte toxins up to about a 30% infestation level (Gwinn et al., 1998). Those fields with 30% or more endophyte infestation are good candidates for re-establishment. The most highly infested fields should be considered first, since the destruction of a pasture will result in some temporary (1-2 yr) loss of feed supply and possible erosion. In general, no more than one-third of the total area of a given farm in tall fescue should be destroyed at any one time.

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