Remarkable microbiology, made simple 

Next time you use your computer, take a quick look at the little logos on it.

If today’s model doesn’t say ‘Intel Inside’ somewhere on it, you’ve almost certainly used devices that did.

You don’t need to know anything about Intel to get the best out of your computer. As long as the device does what it’s supposed to, the finer points of advanced microprocessor design, testing and function don’t matter. All of that is Intel’s business.

Now, instead of CPUs, think about ryegrass endophytes. These are our business, a bit like microchips are Intel’s.

We focus on all the minute details of endophyte, so you can concentrate on doing what you do best – growing premium food and fibre, on pasture you know you can trust. 

Wood vs trees

What’s more important? Having pasture that works for your conditions and requirements, or knowing all the different strains of endophyte inside out? In other words, are you looking at the wood, or the trees?

Yes, endophytes are an integral part of many NZ pastures, for good reason. But they don’t feed your animals! Top performing pastures do that.

Running a successful, sustainable farm business is already far more complicated than it ever used to be. Knowledge is not always power; sometimes it’s just distracting, and overwhelming.

Prioritise the basics of ryegrass endophyte and pasture this season, instead of the technicalities, and you will simplify at least one key component of your business, without compromising performance. You could even end up better off. Who doesn’t want that? 

Zooming out  

It may sound odd, Barenbrug generalising about endophytes.

After all, we supply more of them than anyone else, and we’ve been discovering new ones since  1995. We are also the only company to patent the unique science of blending different endophyte strains in a single ryegrass cultivar.

But hear us out on this one - we speak from decades of experience. The more specific we have become in our own work with endophytes, the more we have realised that generalities are equally important to keep in mind.

Why? Because whether a pasture will succeed for you is down to the whole package, particularly cultivar genetics.

Top genetics, chosen to fit your system, and managed well, create thriving, profitable pastures, not just endophyte. 

Cast a wide net 

Think of ryegrass endophytes as service providers. Their job is to protect the plant from insects.

Our job is to discover great endophytes; match them with the best ryegrass cultivars; test the result rigorously to make sure they marry well, then help you get the best out them without feeling like you need a degree in microbiology to decide which pasture to sow.

Instead, you can rely on our genetic track record, which remains industry-leading for a very good reason – our ryegrass breeders are not constrained by endophyte compatibility when they start developing a new cultivar.

That gives them a much broader choice of genetics to work with from day one.

It’s like you selecting herd or flock replacements from all your female progeny, vs having to select them from only a small, random portion of the latest crop of ewe lambs or heifers.

Achieving genetic gain starts with variation, and when variation is limited, so too is the potential for improved performance.

Cart vs horse  

We often describe the relationship between an endophyte and its host plant as a marriage, because it’s all about compatibility, and some endophytes are simply not compatible with some ryegrasses.

If we only had one strain of endophyte, our choice of genetics in a breeding programme would always be confined to those known to be compatible with it.

The cart would effectively drive the horse in this scenario.

Having multiple strains of endophyte allows us to keep the cart where it belongs, and let the horse, in the form of elite grass genetics, drive our breeding process.

That’s why Barenbrug cultivars keep performing so well in the National Forage Variety Trials. Case in point? Maxsyn NEA12, which is unbeaten in the total yield category for all perennials in the latest rankings.
 

Want to know more?  

We’re always happy to talk about how to get the best out of your pastures, and that includes endophyte. You’re welcome to pick our brains anytime, and to book a free Pasture Health Check while you’re at it!