Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a versatile perennial grass used for livestock feed, various turf purposes, and erosion control. It is easy to establish, tolerant to a wide range of management regimens, and a good forage yielder. Nutritive analyses compare favorably to other cool-season grasses. First planted in the United States in the 1940s, it is widely used, but caution in direct grazing and hay feed quality has started since the 1970s when an endophyte (fungus) was found and classified in endophyte-infected stands. Not all stands are infected. However, if infected, the grass can produce compounds called alkaloids that can cause livestock disorders, fescue foot, bovine fat necrosis, some fescue toxicity signs, and some horse disorders.
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