Reduced liveweight gains and serum prolactin levels in hoggets grazing ryegrasses containing Lolium endophyte

Authors: Fletcher LR, Barrell GK
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 32, Issue 8, pp 139-140, Aug 1984
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Fungal/yeast, Growth/development, Locomotor, Mycotoxicosis, Nervous system/neurology, Pasture/crop, Poisoning - plant, Disease/defect, Toxicology
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: In previous research at Grasslands Divn. D.S.I.R., Lincoln, ryegrass staggers was shown to be associated with an endophyte of Lolium perpenne and liveweight gains were reduced prior to the appearance of clinical symptoms of ryegrass staggers in lambs. In subsequent research no ryegrass staggers occurred, but animals grazing endophyte-free Ruanui pastures had higher liveweight gains than those grazing an `old pasture ecotype` in which 95% of plants contained the endophyte. In this instance endophyte effects were confounded with different ryegrass varieties and variable clover content of the pastures, so that differences in liveweight could not be attributed solely to endophyte status. We report subsequent research utilising pure swards of three perennial ryegrass varieties: and old pasture ecotype, Grasslands Nui and Grasslands Ariki; with 36% 69%. and 65% of plants containing endophyte respectively; and swards qf each containing no endophyte. Three replicates of each pasture growing on a Templeton silt loam were set stocked at 20 ewe hoggets/ha (4 hoggets per plot)…

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