Summary

Barenbrug provides the widest range of endophytes available, so endophyte needs to be specified when ordering seed. Note: the ryegrass cultivar itself determines >50% of pasture performance, so this is also a key consideration.

 

NEA 

This endophyte is available in Shogun and Forge ryegrasses. Overall it gives excellent animal health and preformance (see Animal safety), and good black beetle control.

 

NEA2

NEA2 endophyte is ideally suited to farming systems through all regions of NZ, providing persistent pasture for dairy cows, sheep and beef cattle with excellent animal performance and health (see NEA2 Animal Safety). Ryegrass with NEA2 gives good control of black beetle, Argentine stem weevil (ASW) and pasture mealy bug (provisional rating). NEA2 is a designed mix of two endophyte strains. Available in Array, 4front and Rohan.

 

NEA4

NEA4 endophyte is very similar in animal health, performance (see NEA4 Animal Safety) and insect control to NEA2, but forms a better relationship with some of our cultivars. It is a designed mix of two endophyte strains. Available in Maxsyn and Tyson.

 

NEA12

NEA12 is a new endophyte, and differs from other NEA endophytes in that it produces janthitrems. It provides good control of black beetle and very good control of root aphid. We are currently testing other insects, and believe NEA12 will show a wide range of insect control including for porina. Overall animal performance in animal safety testing has been good (see NEA12 Animal Safety), although NEA12 has been shown to cause some ryegrass staggers in lambs at a similar level to AR37 pastures. NEA12 should not be used for horses or deer. Available in Shogun.

 

AR1

AR1 provides excellent animal performance and health. However it provides less insect control, and AR1 should not be sown in the northern North Island on soils affected by black beetle, to which it is susceptible. It provides very good control of ASW and pasture mealy bug (see page 73), but it is susceptible to root aphid. AR1 is staggers free. Available in Governor.

 

AR37

AR37 provides a wide spectrum of insect control, but has some animal health issues. It gives very good control of ASW, pasture mealy bug and root aphid with good control of black beetle. It iprovides a level of porina control. Lamb LWG on AR37 is generally good, although it may be reduced in periods of severe ryegrass staggers. AR37 must not be used for horses or deer because of its animal health issues. Available in Governor.

 

Standard (SE)

SE is sometimes called 'High' or 'Wild type' endophyte and is not recommended. SE can cause severe ryegrass staggers, reduces lamb LWG, causes ill thrift in lambs, increases dags and flystrike and has been shown to reduce milksolids production.

 

Low (LE)

Ryegrass with Low endophyte is an option for areas of very limited insect damage. However, many farmers in Southland are achieving better results from sowing ryegrasses containing the NEA range of endophytes or AR1. LE provides no insect resistance (see page 73). Available in Governor, Tyson, Rohan, Maxsyn and Shogun.

 

Grubout U2

A meadow fescue endophyte that produces lolines to help provide protection from pests above and below ground. At present no actual industry DM yield or persistence data is available on the performance of cultivars containing Grubout U2.