The following letter from a reader was run in the June 8th Issue of The Blood-Horse, a sister publication to The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care. The subsequent response is from Dr Jimmy C. Henning, Extension Professor of Agronomy at the University of Kentucky, and gives some insight on ergot.

Ergot Warning

I am writing this letter as a warning to anybody who has broodmares or cattle.
 
For the past three breeding seasons (1999, 2000, and 2001) I have lost one-third of my crop of foals mostly from late-season unexplained abortions. Many people said it was fescue, which we have always had with no problems, or the abundance of Canadian geese, which we also have had since the 1970s with no problems other than the mess.

My local veterinarian and the veterinarians in Kentucky went over all the records of the mares and had no suggestions other than "put the mares on antibiotics," which I was ready to do, even though I do not believe in using them unless necessary