The ryegrass endophyte in a cool-moist environment

A field grazing experiment studying the impact of the ryegrass endophyte (Acremonium lolii) in a cool moist environment, was carried out at AgResearch regional station in Gore Southland. Four types of pasture were established, high (+E) and low (-E) endophyte ryegrass were sown with (+C) or without (-C) clover. The endophyte had no significant effect on the establishment of the pastures, neither did it affect total pasture production nor pasture composition. The presence of clover in pastures had a greater impact (30%) on animal production than did the presence of endophyte (6%). Mean daily weight gains over 3 years for lambs were 187,183,145 and 132 g/day for -E+C,+E+C, -E and +E respectively. Lambs grazing endophytic pasw genemlly had higher levels of dags. However, ryegrass staggers occurred only in the year with below average summer rainfall. Not all the conditions necessary to induce ryegrass staggers are therefore required to expose livestock to other deleterious effects of endophyte. A detailed study into the environmental requirements for the production of endophyte related toxins is required. The findings reported here significantly differ from findings in summer dry areas.

[1]  C. Brown.  An integrated herbage system for Southland and South Otago. , 1990 .

[2]  W. Hunt.  Annual variations in the severity of attack by Argentine stem weevil on perennial ryegrass. , 1990 .

[3]  B. Sutherland,et al.  Effect of ryegrass containing the endophyte (Acremonium lolii), on the performance of associated white clover and subsequent crops , 1989 .

[4]  C. Bacon,et al.  Effect of the Tall Fescue Endophyte on Plant Response to Environmental Stress , 1989 .

[5]  G. Barker.  Effect of temperature on development and survival of Argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis) immature stages , 1988 .

[6]  S. R. Wilkinson,et al.  Ergopeptine Alkaloids in Grazed Tall Fescue , 1988 .

[7]  D. Musgrave,et al.  Endophytic fungi affect growth of perennial ryegrass , 1985 .

[8]  D. R. Musgrave,et al.  Detection of an endophytic fungus of Lolium perenne using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) , 1984 .

[9]  L. R. Fletcher.  EFFECTS OF PRESENCE OF LOLIUM ENDOPHYTE ON GROWTH RATES OF WEANED LAMBS, GROWING ON TO HOGGETS, ON VARIOUS RYEGRASSES , 1983 .

[10]  L. R. Fletcher.  Observations of ryegrass staggers in weaned lambs grazing different ryegrass pastures , 1982 .

[11]  G. Barker,et al.  An association of Lolium endophyte with ryegrass resistance to Argentine stem weevil , 1982 .

[12]  E. White,et al.  Ryegrass staggers: isolation of potent neurotoxins lolitrem A and lolitrem B from staggers-producing pastures. , 1981, New Zealand veterinary journal.

[13]  L. R. Fletcher,et al.  An association of a Lolium endophyte with ryegrass staggers. , 1981, New Zealand veterinary journal.

[14]  O. Tw,et al.  The effect of herbage yield and allowance on growth and carcass characteristics of weaned lambs , 1979 .

[15]  R. Keogh.  Induction and prevention of ryegrass staggers in grazing sheep , 1973 .