Vaccine for Preventing & Treating Fescue Toxicosis Technology Description: ARS and the University of Georgia researchers have developed a vaccine for treating and preventing fescue toxicosis in grass-eating animals. Animals contract fescue toxicosis from eating tall fescue grass. Symptoms include lethargy, weight reduction, reduced milk production, and reduced reproductive efficiency, increased respiration rate, gangrenous lesions, and rough hair coats. About 90 percent of fescue grass is infected with a toxic fungus that causes fescue toxicosis. Fescue toxicosis causes major economic loses to the U.S. livestock industry. The only way to prevent or treat the condition is to move animal herds into another pasture, or to feed them supplements. Currently, a vaccine for treating or preventing fescue toxicosis is not commercially available. This new vaccine protects animals for about 4 to 5 weeks. Reference: Patent Number 6,117,427*, 'Vaccines and Methods for Preventing and Treating Fescue Toxicosis in Herbivores,' which issued September 12, 2000.  Inventors: John A. Stuedemann J. Phil Campbell, Sr., Natural Resource   Conservation Center Watkinsville, GA  30677 Phone: (706) 769-5631 X247    Fax:  (706) 769-8962 jstuedem@arches.uga.edu Nicholas S. Hill Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, GA 30602 Frederick N. Thompson Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, GA 30602 Donald L. Dawe Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, GA 30602   *Continuation of Patent No. 5,718,900, which issued February 17, 1999.