Effect of the wild-type tall fescue endophyte on growth rate and feed consumption in nulliparous meat goat does

Tall fescue is one of the primary pasture forages used to manage goats in the United States. Data are limited on how the wild-type endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) found in most tall fescue stands affects meat goat performance. In two experiments across four summers, nulliparous yearling does were fed diets containing tall fescue seed to assess the effect of endophyte infection on goat growth and feed intake. In Experiment 1, does were fed endophyte-infected or endophyte-free tall fescue seeds added to the diets for 10 weeks. Feed refusals were weighed daily. The endophyte-infected diet reduced (P < 0.05) weight gain and increased (P < 0.05) feed refusals. In Experiment 2, feed refusal values of endophyte-infected pens were used to adjust feed offering to endophyte-free pens daily. When daily feed intake was equalized for endophyte-infected and endophyte-free pens, doe weight gain was still reduced by the endophyte-infected diet over 10 weeks. These data suggest that endophyte infection in tall fescue can adversely affect meat goat growth rates in a manner not totally dependent on nutrient intake levels.