Sheep and Goat Science Commons^™

Annual Ryegrass Toxicity Research Update, A G P Brown, P. Vogal

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT) is a complex disease that kills sheep and cattle grazing pastures which contain infected ryegrass. The disease results when a nematode (Anguina agrostis) and a batcerium (Corynebacterium sp.) invade annual ryegrass and cause the seed heads to become toxic as the grass dries off.

The bacterium produces a complex toxin of 18 glycolipid compounds or corynetoxins which have been found to be virtually identical to the antibiotic tunicamycin.

Control Strategies For Annual Ryegrass Toxicity, W J. Burdass

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In 982-83, annual ryegrass tocicity (ARGT) was estimated to have cost Western Australian sheep farmers between $7 and $8 million in total economic losses.

The disease can severely disrupt farming operations. Sheep must be checked daily and if affected moved to a 'safe' paddock. The availability of paddock feed is reduced, as is stock carrying capacity. Worry about the possibility of dramatic stock losses, and uncertainty about what decisions to make, are all stressful.

Stock losses from ARGT can be minimised by the use of selective herbicides to control ryegrass in pastures and crops. This breaks the disease cycle - …

Annual ('Wimmera') Ryegrass Toxicity, Geoffrey A. Pearce, O. M. Goss, P. H. Berry, J. L. Wise

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Because annual ryegrass is one of the most widespread pasture plants in Western Australia, annual ryegrass toxicity is a threat to livestock in many agricultural areas—even though the area now affected is small.

The problem is being intensively studied by the Department of Agriculture and a working group has been set up to investigate potential control measures.

In this article the group reviews the problem and reports progress in its investigations to the end of 1973.

Wimmera Ryegrass Toxicity, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Wimmera ryegrass toxicity has been reported for many years to affect sheep and occasionally cattle in New Zealand, South Australia and the United States of America.

In Western Australia, occasional reports since 1959 and severe outbreaks of staggers in the Katanning- Gnowangerup areas over the last two years prompted the investigation reported below.