Grassland extensification and ergot contamination | Extensification de la production fourragere et presence de la maladie de l'ergot
1997
Wyss, U. (Station federale de recherches en production animale, Posieux (Switzerland)) | Vogel, R. | Richter, W. | Wolff, J.
In a trial with extensively used meadows (two or three cuts per year) ergot contamination on different grasses was found in the years 1993 to 1996. This contamination especially occurred in autumn on the second or third growth. On the first growth, in 1996 only, a contamination was found on a part of a plot, which had been cut after mid July only. The proportion of fertile stems was highest in italian rye-grass. Between 7 and 17 of the stems were affected by ergot. The infection increased as the fodder became older; it varied between 0.1 and 2.0 g ergot sclerozia per kg dry matter. Besides the alkaloids ergometrin, ergotamin and ergocryptin the total alkaloid content was also analysed. This content varied between 1200 and 5200 mg per kg sclerotia in the different grasses. The alkaloid content was influenced by size of the sclerotia and storage time. A strong decrease of the alkaloid content has been attained when the fodder was ensiled. Especially in silages treated with formic acid or with an inoculant and showing a low pH-value (4.0), the alkaloid content could be strongly reduced
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