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Easy mistake to make, since some of the symptoms of
selenium deficiency in mares are the same as some of the symptoms of the
endophyte toxicity in mares on fescue pasture... It is a science in itself
to design studies that truly rule out other variables, which is one reason why
scientists like to make sure that results are repeatable under various
conditions before they accept them completely.
Fascinating to read the chronology of the
understanding of the fescue issue, Lisa, and congrats in your role in the
story!
Heidi
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 7:51
AM
Subject: Re: [RC] The skinny on tall
fescue and horses --was Pasture
It was not until the mid-80's that my major advisor in college
proved definitively that the presence of the endophyte was connected to the
problems in mares--until then it was accepted that it was a selenium
deficiency, a fallacy that was promoted by a poorly designed study in Missouri
where they compared mare response to Se/Vit. E injections in mares grazing
fescue with mares grazing orchardgrass.
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