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Annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) management

Animal health disease surveillance and control - Annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT)

Stock Management

Before the ryegrass begins to 'hay-off' inspect the stock every day. When an animal shows the clinical signs of ARGT, immediately move stock quietly to a safe paddock. Avoid exciting or stressing the animals as this can precipitate more severe clinical signs, and possibly death. If possible, move the stock to a paddock with shade and water. Infected paddocks can be safely grazed until the ryegrass sets seed. So if possible, graze known infected paddocks heavily before the ryegrass starts to mature.

Ryegrass Control

1. Use herbicides, preferably post-emergent, in crops to control annual ryegrass.
2. Topping ryegrass or hard grazing or mowing while the heads are emerging from the boot will reduce gall production.
3. Spraytopping will reduce ryegrass seed set, and thus the ryegrass population in the following season.
4. Burning, if feasible, is an effective way of removing toxic materials. It will also destroy some of the galls and ryegrass seeds.

Biological Control

The twist fungus is a naturally occurring organism in parts of WA, SA and Vic. and is capable of reducing the level of ARGT causal organisms. An inoculum has been developed by the Department of Agriculture. The inoculum is now available through Biological and Resource Technology Pty Ltd under license from the Department of Agriculture.

GUARD is a ryegrass variety that was developed by SARDI and Valley Seeds. It is resistant to invasion by the nematode and therefore reduces the risk of ARGT. GUARD is most suited to areas where rainfall is 450 mm or higher, and in areas with a long growing season.

As most of the ARGT area in WA receives less than 450 mm rainfall and has a short growing season, GUARD has minimal application in WA. To suit the Western Australian conditions an early flowering, nematode-resistant variety has been bred from GUARD. It is called SAFEGUARD and is now available in WA from Irwin Hunter and Co. (08 - 9383 4708, Fax 08 - 9384 8029). The effectiveness of SAFEGUARD in preventing ARGT and how it fits into the WA ecosystem is still being evaluated.

A naturally occurring fungus, the twist fungus (Dilophospora alopecuri), is found to be capable of reducing the level of ARGT causal organisms and hence reducing the risk of ARGT. An inoculum of the fungus has been developed by the Department of Agriculture and Food with funding from the Grain Research and Development Corporation and the WoolMark Company.

See a graphic illustration of how the fungus works.

The inoculum is commercially available through Biological and Resource Technology Pty Ltd.

Page reviewed: 11 October 2006

Content ID 4098