Fungus on Dallis Grass
- Dallis grass is not poisonous, but seed-heads infected with the ergot fungus are considered toxic. This fungal disease usually peaks in the latter part of summer or fall and contains toxic pyridine alkaloids. Ingestion of this fungus by livestock produces symptoms of plant poisoning.
- The symptoms associated with ergot poisoning include extreme excitement, wariness, distrust and affected animals often attack without warning. Later stages of poisoning produce symptoms such as staggering, lack of muscle control, tremors and falling.
- Cattle that exhibit symptoms of poisoning from ingestion of dallis grass and ergot fungus often recover if removed from grazing when symptoms first present themselves. Recognizing fungal disease symptoms associated with ergot is key to keeping livestock healthy. Grass infected with this fungus often have sticky masses of spores on seed-heads and round, yellow fruiting bodies are often present. Once these fruiting bodies ripen and fall to the ground, they are toxic to grazing livestock.