Kentucky 31 Fescue

Kentucky 31 Fescue: Overview and Challenges for Cattle
Kentucky 31 (KY-31) is a widely planted variety of tall fescue grass, prized for its durability, drought tolerance, and ability to thrive in the southeastern U.S., including Kentucky and surrounding states.

Introduced in the 1940s, it quickly became a staple for pastures due to its persistence under heavy grazing and low maintenance needs. However, KY-31 is typically infected with an endophyte fungus (Neotyphodium coenophialum), which produces ergot alkaloids—toxic compounds that cause fescue toxicosis in grazing livestock, particularly cattle. Symptoms include reduced weight gains, lower milk production, poor conception rates, heat stress intolerance, rough hair coats that shed slowly, and in severe cases, fat necrosis (hard fat deposits in the abdomen that can complicate calving or digestion). These issues make continuous grazing on pure KY-31 stands problematic, as toxin levels peak in spring and fall, exacerbating heat-related stress in humid climates.
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Southpoll Cattle: A Breed Tailored for Fescue Challenges
Southpoll cattle are a composite heritage breed developed in the 1980s by Teddy Gentry to create heat-tolerant, grass-efficient animals ideal for southern U.S. conditions. They're known for their slick, red hair coats that aid in heat dissipation, moderate frame size, easy fleshing on forage, strong fertility, longevity, docile temperaments, and calving ease—traits that make them excellent for grass-fed operations. Crucially, Southpolls perform well on endophyte-infected KY-31 fescue, where many other breeds struggle with toxicosis and heat. Breeders select for fescue hardiness, reporting that Southpolls maintain body condition, gain weight effectively, and handle the alkaloids better due to their tropical ancestry, which confers resilience to heat, humidity, and toxin-laden forages. Farms like Sassafras Valley Ranch explicitly raise Southpolls on fescue for these reasons, noting their ability to thrive without supplemental grain.

​Rotational Grazing: Optimizing KY-31 for Southpoll Herds
Rotational grazing—dividing pastures into paddocks and moving cattle frequently (e.g., every 1–7 days depending on growth)—is a key management strategy for KY-31 fescue pastures, especially with toxin-sensitive breeds. It allows forage recovery, reduces selective grazing (where cattle avoid toxic tillers), and dilutes alkaloids by promoting even growth and mixing in legumes like clover. For Southpoll cattle, this system amplifies their natural advantages: their heat tolerance pairs with rotational setups to minimize toxicosis during peak alkaloid periods, while their efficient grazing habits prevent overgrazing that could stress the fescue stand. Studies and farmer experiences show rotational grazing on KY-31 boosts overall pasture productivity by 20–50%, extends the grazing season (including stockpiled fescue for winter), and improves cattle performance—Southpolls can gain 1.5–2.5 lbs/day on well-managed fescue rotations without the severe setbacks seen in other breeds.
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In summary, KY-31 fescue offers robust, low-input pasture potential but requires careful management due to toxicosis; Southpoll cattle excel here as a toxin-resilient, grass-finishing breed; and rotational grazing ties it all together for sustainable, high-performance operations in fescue-dominated regions.