WINTER FEED VALUE OF 'GRASSLANDS MOATA TETRAPLOID ITALIAN RYEGRASS IN SOUTHLAND

Abstract

Three separate experiments evaluating 'Grasslands Moata' (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) during autumn and winter in Southland are discussed. In two, establishment, productivity and persistence of Moata was compared with 'Grasslands Nui' perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). 'Grasslands Manawa' short rotation ryegrass (L perenne x L. multiflorum) and 'Grasslands Paroa' (L. multiflorum Lam.) and 'Concord' Italian ryegrasses. The third experiment compared ram lamb performance on Moata and Nui. Moata and Concord established rapidly, both producing 30% greater autumn/winter growth in the first year than Paroa and Manawa. However in the second autumn/winter Moata outyielded the other cultivars by 14%. Moata also outyielded Nui perennial ryegrass during autumn/winter by an average of 10% over two years. Lambs grazing Moata during winter had higher liveweight gains than those on Nui (223 ct. 139 g/head/day), a result of higher feed intakes of Moata compared with Nui (2.01 ct. 1.65 kg/ head/day). The differences in feed intake were related to the in vitro digestibility of the two ryegrasses (79% for Moata cf 69% for Nui) and the crude protein levels of the herbage (22.6% for Moata cf 19.3% for Nui). Keywords: Italian ryegrass. pasture quality, cool-season growth, animal performance, Acremonium endophyte