Determining Presence of Toxins in Rye Grass and Fescue Pastures

Summary

Evidence from the literature suggested that lolitrem B and ergovaline levels (alkaloids) would be at a low point for the year at sample one (November) due to lower levels of moisture and heat stress, but would rise in subsequent samples. The increase in lolitrem B and ergovaline levels over summer and autumn was associated with increase stress (heat, moisture, frost). This trend was not observed uniformly across all sites. Samples collected from northern New England had very low levels of alkaloid. Samples collected from southern New England did show a seasonality of alkaloid concentration, with highest levels of lolitrem B and ergovaline being recorded from the final sample in May 2004. This sample was collected when moisture stress was at the highest level during the collection period and after some early frosts.