Porirua, New Zealand
December 17, 2004

A Waikato-wide survey conducted by AgResearch earlier this year has found a reduced incidence of facial eczema spores in pastures containing the tetraploid perennial ryegrass Quartet.

Conducted from March-May 2004, the study compared monthly the levels of facial eczema spores in 50 pairs (a pair constitutes one diploid and one tetraploid paddock on the same farm) of paddocks throughout the Waikato and found fewer facial eczema spores in the Quartet tetraploid pastures at all times. The implication of this result for farmers who regularly suffer reduced animal production as a result of facial eczema, is an opportunity to improve productivity by utilizing Quartet ryegrass in their pastures.

Facial eczema is a disease of livestock, caused by a toxin released into bloodstream after digestion of spores of the fungus Pithomyces chartarum. These spores are generally found in dead plant material at the base of the pasture sward, and numbers are highest during warm, wet, humid conditions. The toxin from the spores damages the liver of the animal, causing severe skin lesions as a result of photosensitisation. Consequently animals become restless, seek shade and often suffer loss of appetite which ultimately reduces their productive capacity (milk production, growth rate etc.).

Though further work is required, the hypothesis is that the high palatability of the tetraploid Quartet ultimately leads to lower post grazing residuals and a reduced incidence of dead plant material within the sward compared with diploid pastures. Dead material in the sward often results from grass becoming long and rank.

The reduced incidence of facial eczema, combined with the other positive attributes of Quartet such as its late heading date, low aftermath heading, reduced endophyte toxicity and proven animal performance (to name just a few),  is just one more good reason for farmers to consider Quartet tetraploid perennial ryegrass when renewing their pastures this autumn.