Fescue toxicosis costs the cattle industry more than a billion dollars each year. Cattle producers will be interested in a new study beginning at the University of Kentucky aimed at the potential of hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in mitigating fescue toxicosis in beef cattle.
UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment received a $300,000 grant for the research project aimed at the issue affecting beef production, especially in regions dominated by endophyte-infected tall fescue, according to a news release.
Department of Animal and Food Sciences assistant professor Ronald Trotta says fescue toxicosis reduces the weaning weight of nine million U.S. beef calves per year by an average of 50 pounds each.
Fescue toxicosis can cause reduced feed intake, increased vasoconstriction and susceptibility to heat stress, along with compromised gut integrity. This research is especially relevant to Kentucky, where 14 million hectares are covered with this type of fescue affected by ergot alkaloids.
“We will be focusing on the three primary fescue toxicosis symptoms,” Trotta explains. “The ergot alkaloids in fescue bind to specific receptors in blood vessels, causing vasoconstriction. This reduces blood flow to critical areas like the gut, decreasing nutrient absorption and activating the immune system.”
According to the release, the two-year study will evaluate the effectiveness of 5-HTP, a precursor to serotonin, in alleviating these symptoms. Increased serotonin bioavailability is expected to relax blood vessels, improve dry matter intake and reduce immune system activation, thereby counteracting the adverse effects of ergot alkaloids.
Using a multi-faceted approach, integrating nutritional, hormonal and transcriptomic analyses, researchers will examine gene expression in various body parts to understand how 5-HTP influences feed intake, vasoconstriction and gut health.
“We are conducting this study under very controlled conditions, using six animals per treatment group,” Trotta says. “This smaller scale allows for precise monitoring and comprehensive data collection.”
Trotta recently joined Martin-Gatton CAFÉ and shared his enthusiasm about this research’s potential impact.
“This project could offer a novel and effective strategy to mitigate the clinical symptoms of fescue toxicosis, significantly benefiting beef producers in Kentucky and beyond,” he says.
The research outcomes are expected to provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of fescue toxicosis and the therapeutic potential of 5-HTP, contributing to improved animal health and agricultural productivity, according to the release.
