A recent trial conducted at Kimihia Research Centre, Canterbury, has shown that in addition to producing a high level of dry matter, EXTREME™ ryegrass produces a pasture sward with high nutritional quality. EXTREMEä was released to the market last autumn.

Sown in 2002 the trial measured the quality of EXTREME™ over two summers relative to the cultivars Bronsyn and Samson, using Near Infrared Spectroscopy analysis.  This is a commonly used technique to assess the feed value of forages. EXTREME™ was found to have higher sugar levels (water soluble carbohydrate) and lower fibre levels relative to Samson and Bronsyn.

High water soluble carbohydrate levels are an important feature in a high quality grass, as they provide a readily available source of energy.  The animal can utilize this energy quickly and efficiently to increase protein utilization and drive animal production.

Conversely while some fibre is required for proper function of the rumen, too much will reduce the potential production of your livestock. Therefore selection for pasture cultivars with a reduced fibre content over the traditionally low quality summer period will be beneficial to animal performance. The reduced fibre levels of EXTREME™ over the summer period can be attributed partially to its low aftermath heading, which means that it produces a smaller number of seed heads following the initial seed head flush in late October/early November.   This will result in improved summer quality.

The high quality of EXTREME™ combined with its high level of dry matter production means EXTREME™ can be expected to produce high levels of animal production. A point affirmed by farmers who have trialed EXTREME™ prior to its commercial release. For example Rhys Drummond who farms at Tinui, Masterton has commented on the “magic grass’s ability to finish stock quickly”, with “400kg bulls introduced to a paddock of EXTREME™ at the beginning of September weighing in excess of 600kg when removed from the paddock at Christmas”.

Add to this the results of the recent trial results from AgResearch which shows the superior Black Beetle resistance of EXTREME™ with the AR6 endophyte relative to AR1 and nil-endophyte pasture cultivars, and one has to say that EXTREME™ looks to be a pretty impressive grass.