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Joseph H. Bouton
Professor of Crop and Soil Sciences
Creative Research
Medal 2002
Inventor’s
Award 1993
Joseph H. Bouton, Professor of Crop and Soil Sciences, has developed
a new tall fescue product that is significantly improving livestock
performance. In humid areas of the United States, tall fescue is
the most widely grown pasture grass with nearly 40 million acres
in production. Inside these plants, however, lives a fungus that
produces ergot alkaloids. These alkaloids are toxic to livestock,
substantially reduce their growth and reproduction, and constitute
an annual loss of $1 billion to U.S. beef producers alone. Because
the fungus is essential for fescue growth, survival, and drought
protection, killing it is an unacceptable option. Dr. Bouton, in
collaboration with Dr. Garrick C.M. Latch of New Zealand’s Grasslands
Research Centre, successfully solved this problem by isolating
naturally occurring fungal strains incapable of producing ergot
alkaloids and re-introducing these strains into elite tall fescue
cultivars previously developed by Dr. Bouton at UGA. After extensive
animal and pasture testing, the most successful strain was commercialized
under the name ‘MaxQ’ tall fescue. Such revolutionary new products
have gained a reputation among producers for their immense success
and positive impact on the productivity and financial profitability
of the livestock industry.
Source: 23rd Annual Research Awards Program (2002)
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