Endophyte fungus levels in perennial ryegrass and tall fescuse varieties grown for seed in Oregon, USA - implications for responsible grass straw use as livestock feed

Authors

  • Young Iii
  • M.E. Mellbye
  • T.B. Silberstein
  • G.A. Gingrich
  • A.M. Craig
  • L.L. Blythe

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33584/rps.13.2006.3138

Abstract

Baling of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) straw residue following seed harvest has become a common practice in Oregon's grass seed industry. In 2005, almost 670 000 tons [607 000 Mg (tonne)] of grass straw was exported to Japan and Korea for use as livestock feed. Most of the grass seed varieties grown today are turf-type, which in recent years have been developed with high levels of fungal endophyte infection. Currently, over 73% and 43% of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue varieties, respectively, are ranked as having a "High" (>61% infected) infection level. Concern for the safe use of these grass straw residues had led to their routine analysis for toxin content before shipment to consuming markets. These chemical analyses provide assurances against deleterious effects to livestock fed Oregon grass straw. Keywords: straw, endophyte-infected, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue

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Published

2007-01-01

How to Cite

Iii, Y., Mellbye, M., Silberstein, T., Gingrich, G., Craig, A., & Blythe, L. (2007). Endophyte fungus levels in perennial ryegrass and tall fescuse varieties grown for seed in Oregon, USA - implications for responsible grass straw use as livestock feed. NZGA: Research and Practice Series, 13, 275–276. https://doi.org/10.33584/rps.13.2006.3138

Issue

Vol. 13 (2007): 6th International Symposium on Fungal Endophytes of Grasses

Section

Past volumes

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Rights granted to the New Zealand Grassland Association through this agreement are non-exclusive. You are free to publish the work(s) elsewhere and no ownership is assumed by the NZGA when storing or curating an electronic version of the work(s). The author(s) will receive no monetary return from the Association for the use of material contained in the manuscript. If I am one of several co-authors, I hereby confirm that I am authorized by my co-authors to grant this Licence as their agent on their behalf. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes the rights to supply the article in electronic and online forms and systems.