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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.

Additional information on ARGT control through management of annual ryegrass pasture is available in Farmnote 258.

Biological control

The twist fungus (Dilophospora alopecuri) is a naturally occurring organism in parts of WA, SA, NSW and Victoria and is capable of reducing the prevalence of ARGT causal organisms and hence reducing the risk of ARGT. The Department of Agriculture and Food has developed an inoculum with financial assistance from the Grains Research and Development Corporation and Australian Wool Innovation. The inoculum is now available through Becker Underwood Pty Ltd under license from the Department of Agriculture and Food. The order form for the twist fungus inoculum is available here, or from the Becker Underwood website http://www.beckerunderwood.com/en/home and from local rural stock agents.

Farmnote 416 gives details on twist fungus reduces the risk of ARGT. See a graphic illustration of how the fungus works below.

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 WA 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. (phone 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.

Page reviewed: July  2010