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NEMO | If it weren't for fescue Missouri wouldn't have any grass at all!!!
Maybe a little over kill, but not far from the truth for a lot of places in MO.
It is better to move fescue cattle to other grasses than it is to bring hard grass non fescue cattle to fescue. (Think MO fescue cattle going to Flint Hills and performing fine vs. Flint Hills or Western cattle moving to MO fescue and never really adapting.)
Non fescue cattle need special mineral (I think ADM had an endophyte-r mineral) and a little TLC like gluten, ddgs, etc. Even then you still may not be excited about the performance.
I don't believe an older non-fescue cow will ever adapt. A young heifer might adapt a little. Both of their offspring born on fescue would adapt better than the old cow or younger heifer moved into fescue, but even then might not perform like well adapted fescue cattle.
Edit to add: I doubt many tails would be lost (1 out of 30-50) unless you get into an extreme endophyte problem. Breed back and performance is where you will notice things the most.
Edited by cows-n-crops 2/13/2018 00:58
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Introducing cows to fescue.
