triticale & ergot

[navena]

A neighbour has offered to sell me triticale to feed steers and heifers. The sample has several ergot kernels in it, I have not had it analyzed yet as to percentage of ergot. What are toxity levels for ergot? Thanks for your help.

[vkoff]

My vet warned me years ago about feeding feeds containing ergot. What I seem to remember is that ergot is very high in estrogen and will affect the breeding cycles in females. Not sure of the toxic levels.

[jmillang]

Navena & Vkoff you are both correct about being hesitant about feeding ergot. There are many reactions to the ergot bodies especially in females. There is also a toxic level and it is 1 ergot body per 1 kernels of grain or .1% There is a very good article that Christoph Weder, beef specialist with Alberta Agriculture has written. Follow the link below to the article.