Impact of consuming tall fescue seeds infected with the endophytic fungus, Neotyphodium coenophialum, on reproduction of chickens

Abstract

Most of the 14 million hectares of pastures of tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea) planted in the United States are infected with the endophytic fungus, Neotyphodium coenophialum. I examined whether the consumption of fescue seed infected with this fungus had an adverse impact on reproduction in birds. Chickens were used as the model; they were maintained on a diet of chick starter mixed in equal amounts with either infected fescue seed (fungus-fed chickens) or uninfected fescue seed (control chickens). Consumption of infected fescue seed slowed the growth rates of female chicks but not males. Fungus-fed hens gained weight more slowly than control hens and also produced fewer eggs. Egg weight and fertility were similar in both groups of hens. Fungus-fed hens were more likely than control hens to produce eggs which lacked a shell. Naive hens exhibited an aversion for infected fescue seed when the seed was first presented to them, but the aversion disappeared after the hens were placed on a diet which included fescue seed for 3 or 6 months. Hens did not discriminate between feed containing infected seed and feed containing uninfected seed.