Endophytes can take pasture performance and persistence to the next level by protecting pastures from insects after your seed treatment wears off.
"While a pasture seed treatment such as Ultrastrike will protect your pasture from insects during establishment (0–6 weeks), an endophyte provides the plant with protection from eight weeks onwards," says DLF Seeds product development manager Isaac Berry.
An endophyte is a fungus found naturally in many grass species, including ryegrass. It protects the plant from insects; in return, it offers the endophyte a place to live and reproduce.
Tim Calder, a farmer from Meeniyan Victoria, has had great success protecting his pasture against African black beetle with AR37 endophyte. "Several years ago, African black beetle appeared on our farm, decimating our Italian and some permanent ryegrass pastures which brought about a change in pasture variety selection on our farm.
“I wanted a tetraploid perennial that was persistent, palatable and responsive to summer and early autumn rains. Having evaluated several varieties on our farm, I now use Base tetraploid perennial ryegrass with AR37 endophyte almost exclusively in our pasture improvement program.
“A particular feature is its persistency (I have many paddocks untouched for over five years) and its ability to maintain feed quality into the early summer. It has also been a reliable performer in producing good quality silage in large quantities with up to three cuts on some out paddocks," Mr Calder said.
DLF Seeds have been the leaders in bringing to market novel endophytes (such as AR37), to provide farmers with insect control, improved animal safety and animal productivity and increased dry matter performance over the standard “wild” type endophyte.
“We have supplied the market with novel endophytic grasses for over 20 years, and developed the research, knowledge and understanding of how to ensure we deliver viable endophyte (percentage of live endophyte) in the seed we supply,” Mr Berry said.
“Viable endophyte means that the grass will provide the level of insect protection we expect.”
AR37 endophyte has been sown on Australian farms for over 15 years, taking ryegrass pasture persistence and protection to a premium level by controlling insects such as Argentine stem weevil larvae, pasture mealy bug, adult black beetle and root aphid.
Wonthaggi farmer Leigh Weston has seen the increase in milk production a high-quality ryegrass with a proven endophyte can offer. "Base with AR37 suits our farm and our management style. When the cows come in here, you will get another litre or two in the vat, there's no doubt about it,” Mr Weston said.
AR37 is available in perennial ryegrass varieties such as Base and Vast tetraploid perennial ryegrass, Legion, One50, Platform diploid perennial ryegrass and the new late heading Reason diploid perennial ryegrass, as well as Mohaka tetraploid hybrid ryegrass.
“Endophyte technology has advanced significantly since the 1980's and we have continued to help develop novel endophytes which provide the long-term pasture persistence and protection from pests that farmers require, while reducing animal health issues,” Mr Berry said.
DLF’s AR37 varieties offer on farm certainty and ample benefits, providing:
- an unbeaten balance of pasture production andpersistence
- higher tiller density over time
- assistance with post-drought recovery and improved agronomic performance
- stronger control of more insect pests compared to ryegrass cultivars containing AR1 endophyte or standard endophyte (SE)
- the potential for greater carcass weight per hectare compared to ryegrass cultivars containing SE
- greater return on investment
- increased total dry matter production compared to ryegrasses containing AR1 or no endophyte
- no ergovaline (an alkaloid produced by some endophytes) for increased milk production (endophytes containing ergovaline may impact milk production)
- increased sheep performance compared to ryegrass cultivars containing SE
- low incidence of dags in sheep.
