New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
nfluence of the ryegrass endophyte (Neotyphodium lolii) in a cool-moist
environment II. Sheep production
J. P. J. EERENS
AgResearch
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand
R. J. LUCAS
Department of Plant Science
Lincoln University
P. O. Box 84
Canterbury, New Zealand
H. S. EASTON
AgResearch
Grasslands Research Centre
Private Bag 11008
Palmerston North, New Zealand
J. G. H. WHITE
Department of Plant Science
Lincoln University
P. O. Box 84
Canterbury, New Zealand
Abstract The impact of the ryegrass endophyte on sheep
production in a cool moist environment was examined in a field experiment in
Southland, New Zealand. Ryegrass staggers were observed in one year when
drought conditions were experienced, but not in years with average summer
rainfall. There was a negative correlation (r = -0.9) between ryegrass
staggers score and liveweight changes in animals forced to consume a high
proportion of basal plant material, and animals grazed endophyte-infected
pastures less closely than endophyte-free pastures. Lamb liveweight gains were
not significantly affected by the presence of endophyte, except when drought
conditions were experienced, although this is probably more a reflection of
differences in pasture composition than of a direct endophyte effect. Faecal
soiling was higher (P = 0.052) on endophyte-infected pastures,
especially under drought conditions (P = 0.025), and wool yields on
mixed ryegrass/white clover pastures were 10% higher on endophyte-free than on
endophyte-infected pastures (P = 0.003). There was no evidence of an
endophyte effect on fat deposit. It is concluded that the endophyte had
moderate negative effects on animal production in a cool moist environment.
Keywords lamb growth rates; Neotyphodium lolii; sheep
production; Southland; Trifolium repens; white clover; wool production
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1998, Vol. 41: 191-199
0028-8233/98/4102-0191 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1998
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (740K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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