Forage Value Index - DairyNZ

Forage Value Index The DairyNZ FVI Handbook

1 | DairyNZ Forage Value Index – handbook

This edition published: January 2017 Edited by Cameron Ludemann and Sally Peel (DairyNZ)

Funded by New Zealand dairy farmers through DairyNZ. For more information visit dairynz.co.nz or phone 0800 4 DairyNZ (0800 4 324 7969) DairyNZ Corner Ruakura and Morrinsville Roads Private Bag 3221 Hamilton 3240 © DairyNZ Limited 201 Disclaimer DairyNZ Limited (“DairyNZ”, “we”, “our”) endeavours to ensure that the information in this publication is accurate and current. However we do not accept liability for any error or omission. The information that appears in this publication is intended to provide the best possible dairy farm management practices, systems and advice that DairyNZ has access to. However, the information is provided as general guidance only and is not intended as a substitute for specific advice. Practices, systems and advice may vary depending on the circumstances applicable to your situation. The information may also be subject to change at any time without notice. DairyNZ takes no responsibility whatsoever for the currency and/or accuracy of this information, its completeness or fitness for purpose.

DNZ30-023

Contents Forage Value Index overview

3

Key DairyNZ contacts for FVI

4

Pasture renewal organisations

5

Data used

6

National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT)

6

Defining performance value

8

Calculating the Forage Value Index

8

Calculation of FVI

10

Using economic values to calculate Forage Value Indices

11

Farm system summaries

12

Price and cost assumptions

13

Economic values of seasonal dry matter production for perennial ryegrass

14

Seasons used in the Forage Value Index

15

Star ratings for FVI and seasonal dry matter production performance values

15

Metabolisable energy concentration information

16

Star ratings for seasonal metabolisable energy concentration performance values

16

Confidence values

16

Future Forage Value Index

16

Metabolisable energy concentration trait

16

ME concentration data currently available as at February 2017

17

Economic values of seasonal metabolisable energy concentration trait for perennial ryegrass

19

Pasture persistence trait

20

Environmental traits

20


Appendix 21 Star statistics for perennial ryegrass

22

Star statistics for 12 month ryegrass

26

Star statistics for winter feed ryegrass

30

Performance value star rating ranges

34

Farmers questions 36 ‘Choosing cultivars’ – quick reads on related topics

37

Endophyte rating tables 39 References 41 Glossary of terms 42


Forage Value Index overview Identifying forages that maximise farm profit The DairyNZ Forage Value Index (FVI) is an independent, region specific and profit-based index for short-term and perennial ryegrass cultivars. The FVI allows farmers to make more informed, confident and profitable decisions when choosing ryegrass cultivars for their pasture renewal programme and is available at dairynz.co.nz/fvi. The Index is based on independently calculated Economic Values (EV) and Performance Values (PV) for seasonal dry matter production. The Forage Value Index (FVI) cultivar selector tool available on the DairyNZ website provides decision support for farmers selecting ryegrass cultivars; based on regional star rating, performance value (dry matter production by season) and the associated attributes (ploidy, heading date, endophyte). As of February 2017, the FVI also includes additional information on seasonal metabolisable energy concentration. However, the metabolisable energy concentration data will not be incorporated into the FVI calculation until we have more trial data.

The FVI was developed by DairyNZ in conjunction with the New Zealand Plant Breeding and Research Association (NZPBRA). Each cultivar has an associated star rating to represent its rank in the Forage Value Index. The FVI is based on National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) data supplied by NZPBRA. NFVT data is currently taken from short term trials (up to 3 years), however there are plans to include the longer term pasture persistence trait in the FVI.


Key DairyNZ contacts for FVI

Dr Cameron Ludemann

Dr David Chapman

Sally Peel

Forage Value Manager

Principal Scientist

Developer – productivity

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]


Pasture renewal organisations New Zealand Plant Breeding and Research Association (NZPBRA) The New Zealand Plant Breeding & Research Association (NZPBRA) is a group of seed companies engaged in the development and marketing of improved plant varieties for the New Zealand arable and pastoral sectors. NZPBRA members invest in breeding and research, using proven standards of performance, to deliver plant varieties with attributes that meet the changing needs of NZ agricultural systems. Although members are competitors in the market place, they collaborate under the NZPBRA banner. Examples of collaborations include: plant collection expeditions, joint cultivar trialing (NFVT) and supporting of research projects intended to improve agricultural performance. NZPBRA works to achieve the continued uptake of advanced arable and pastoral species and varieties by New Zealand farmers, with the aim to increase financial rewards at the farm gate. More information available is on their website: nzpbra.org.nz.

Pasture Improvement Leadership Group (PILG) The Pasture Improvement Leadership Group (PILG), led by DairyNZ includes researchers, the seed industry, farmers and agricultural contractors. The group was formed to help tackle issues affecting pasture persistence and performance head-on by ensuring farmers receive consistent, timely messages on pasture persistence and renewal. There are a number of research projects and initiatives underway across different industry organisations. The leadership group provides a communications channel for these pieces of work. Resources that have come out of work of the leadership group include the DairyNZ Pasture Condition Score Tool and the DairyNZ Pasture Renewal Guide.

Pasture Renewal Charitable Trust (PRCT) The Pasture Renewal Charitable Trust (PRCT) is an independent entity funded by agribusinesses, working to increase the awareness of pasture renewal benefits for the New Zealand economy. The focus of this group is to increase the rate of pasture renewal at a national level through research, communication and advocacy. For information on the benefits of pasture renewal and tools to assess the value of new pasture go to http://www. pasturerenewal.org.nz/Evaluation.


Data used National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) information is used to calculate DairyNZ FVI and trait values for ryegrass categorized as ‘Perennial’, ‘12 Month’ and ‘Winter Feed’. There is an extensive supporting research program being undertaken to investigate species interactions, and to assess the realized rate of gain in plant performance.

National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) The National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) system was set up in 1991 through the New Zealand Plant Breeding and Research Association Inc. (NZPBRA), by the plant breeding companies as a means of co-operatively testing new breeding lines of ryegrass. These trials are carried out using comprehensive and scientifically based protocols. All results are subjected to a rigorous peer review before publication. Over the last 20 years, this trial system has become the most comprehensive cultivar evaluation programme in New Zealand, testing plant species across a range of regions, using replicated small plot trials. Over 110 individual replicated dry matter production trials have been completed under the NFVT system, including over 44 perennial ryegrass trials. These trials have provided robust data on dry matter production and seasonal growth patterns for the tested cultivars. Plant pulling and rust resistance data are also available. The Forage Value Index ranking for perennial ryegrass cultivars is calculated from information on dry matter production obtained from the NFVT system. The strengths of NFVT include: Trials have been conducted in numerous locations throughout New Zealand, since 1994 Each trial has generally included between 10 and 20 different cultivars Many cultivars have been tested in several trials There are more than 70 sets of trial results available The trials are conducted using a standard set of strict research protocols.

However, there are also limitations of the NFVT data: •

Not all trials have ryegrass tested in a mixed sward with clover.

•

Each trial runs for three years, so the long term persistence of perennial ryegrass cultivars is not measured regularly

•

Some trials are grazed (by sheep, beef cattle, or dairy cows), however many are managed under mown conditions

•

The trials are managed to a high standard, with strict potocols. This may not reflect the pasture conditions experienced on commercial farms with regards to weed control, fertilizer inputs and risk of damage (overgrazing, pugging).

In 2011, the NFVT system was reviewed to look at how it could provide better information to support the calculation of the DairyNZ FVI. New initiatives in 2012 included the sowing of perennial ryegrass cultivars to measure persistence (through NFVT) on commercial dairy farms. Secondly, specific trials have been set up to collect information on the feed quality and persistence of perennial ryegrass cultivars so that these traits can be incorporated into the FVI.


Defining performance value The performance value is a measure of how well a cultivar performs in a trait compared to the genetic base. The genetic base is derived from the performance data from a group of cultivars first tested before 1996 including well known cultivars such as Nui, Yatsyn and Bronsyn. Performance values for Perennial Ryegrass are routinely estimated for seasonal dry matter production for winter, early spring, late spring, summer and autumn. For seasonal dry matter production, a performance value is the difference in total dry matter production over a period relative to the average of the genetic base cultivars. For example, the performance value for one cultivar in late spring in the Upper North Island might be +200 kg DM/ha over the months of September and October. This indicates that the cultivar produced 200 kg/ha more DM than the average of the genetic base cultivars. A negative value would indicate that a cultivar performed worse than the average of the genetic base cultivars. Performance values for short term ryegrass categories - 12 Month and Winter Feed are routinely estimated for seasonal dry matter production for establishment, winter, early spring, late spring and summer (late spring and summer do not apply to Winter Feed). Like Perennial Ryegrass, the performance value for seasonal dry matter production for 12 Month and Winter Feed is the difference in dry matter produced over a period relative to the genetic base. To make it easier to compare performance values of cultivars between seasons, the performance values shown in the FVI cultivar selector tool are converted into 5 ‘star’ categories. A 5 indicates the cultivar has performed in the top group of cultivars for that trait, and a 1 indicates a cultivar performed in the bottom group of cultivars. This is comparable to the 5 star rating systems for the overall FVI of cultivars. The performance value star ratings are therefore specific to each dairy region. As shown in Figure 1 the performance value for a perennial ryegrass in the Upper North Island in winter needs to be between 188 and 340 kg DM/ha to be included in the top group to get a 5 star in that trait. Performance values are calculated independently by DairyNZ using data from the National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) administered by the NZ Plant Breeding and Research Association. The calculations are explained in the following section. FVI STAR RATING ($/ha) Stars

$/ha $487 to $621

PERFORMANCE VALUES (kg DM/ha) Stars

Winter

Early spring

Late spring

Summer

Autumn

5

188 to 340

78 to 210

208 to 373

497 to 721

404 to 582

4

36 to 188

-53 to 78

42 to 208

272 to 497

225 to 404

$354 to $487 $220 to $354 $86 to $220 -$48 to $86

Figure 1: A diagram to explain the performance value star rating system, where the top left shows an example range in FVI for each star rating, the top right shows example performance values for seasonal dry matter production for 4 and 5 star cultivars, and the bottom image shows how the information is displayed in the Cultivar Selector Tool when the performance values for seasonal dry matter production are converted into 1 to 5 star ratings.


Calculating the Forage Value Index The Forage Value Index results are divided into the four main dairy regions of New Zealand. The four main dairy regions are the Upper North Island; Lower North Island, Upper South Island, and the Lower South Island (Figure 2).

Upper Nth. Island

Whangarei

Auckland

Hamilton Rotorua Taupo New Plymouth

Lower Nth. Island

Napier Palmerston North

Nelson

Wellington

Westport

Greymouth

Upper Sth. Island Christchurch

Timaru

Lower Sth. Island

Dunedin Invercargill

Figure 2: Map of the four dairy regions used to report the Forage Value Index.

Results from each of the four dairy regions are calculated using National Forage Variety Trial data taken from two ‘mega environments’. Mega environments are defined as areas in New Zealand where it was indicated using statistical analysis that there are significant differences in the ranking of cultivars (Chapman et al. 2017). Statistical analysis indicated that the ‘Upper North Island’ and the ‘Rest of New Zealand’ (eg. Lower North Island, Upper South Island and Lower South Island) were the two mega environments for perennial ryegrass cultivars (Chapman et al. 2017). The North Island and South Island are the two mega environments for shorter term ryegrasses. Each mega environment has a number of trial sites (Table 1). Using Perennial Ryegrasses as an example, performance values are calculated for each mega environment for seasonal dry matter production including winter, early spring, late spring, summer and autumn. Data is also drawn from outside the mega environment in proportion to the correlation that trait has between environments (explained in next section). This makes better use of available data, especially for new cultivars with few trial results. In the future we will assess at what point, obtaining data from outside a mega environment is necessary, and we may exclude data from outside the main environment if there are sufficient trials for some cultivars. 8 | DairyNZ Forage Value Index – handbook

Table 1: A breakdown of mega environments and trial locations for perennial and short term forages in the Forage Value Index. Forage type

Mega environment

Location of trials within each mega environment

Perennial

Upper North Island

Newstead, Cambridge, Morrinsville, Te Awamutu, and Hukerenui.

Perennial

Rest of New Zealand

Hawkes Bay (Poukawa),Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, wider Canterbury, Gore, Winton, and Tapanui

Short term

North Island

Newstead, Cambridge, Morrinsville, Te Awamutu, Hukerenui, and Hawkes Bay (Poukawa), Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu,

Short term

South Island

Wider Canterbury, Gore, Winton and Tapanui

There are correlations between mega environments: Winter, summer and autumn dry matter production of perennial ryegrass cultivars in Upper North Island for example are highly correlated with the Rest of NZ. In contrast, late spring dry matter production between the two mega environments does not have a high correlation as shown in Table 2 (using 2015/16 data).

Table 2: Genetic correlations (from Pearson correlation analysis of performance values between Upper North Island and the Rest of New Zealand up to the 2015/16 period) applied to performance values for perennial ryegrass seasonal dry matter (DM) production traits.

Winter

Genetic correlation

Early spring

Late spring

Summer

Autumn

DM

DM

DM

DM

DM

production

production

production

production

production

0.61

0.43

0.18

0.58

0.69


In simple terms, to incorporate data from outside the region the FVI is calculated by: •

Data from the target mega environment being given a weighting of 1, whereas, data from the other mega environment will be weighted in proportion to the genetic correlation between environments.

The advantage of this approach is that it utilises information from other mega environments when there are few trials for a cultivar, and it only brings the information in, relative to the degree of relationship between the mega environments. As an example, we want to generate a winter dry matter production performance value within the Upper North Island for a particular perennial ryegrass cultivar. This particular cultivar was included in one trial in the Upper North Island and four in the Rest of New Zealand. The calculated performance value was +200 kg DM/ha in Upper North Island and +100 kg DM/ha over the three other regions of New Zealand. The genetic correlation between environments for winter dry matter production is, for simplicity, 0.25. To calculate the merged performance values (using Upper North Island winter DM production as an example) we use the following formula:

PVwinterDM(UpperNI) = (R×PVwinter(RestNZ) × NRestNZ) + (PVwinter(UpperNI) × NUpperNI ) ( (R × N(RestNZ)) + N UpperNI )

Where R is the genetic correlation between environments, N is the number of trials, PVwinter(RestNZ), is the performance value for winter dry matter production in the rest of New Zealand (ie. the three regions other than the Upper North Island), NRestNZ is the number of trials in the rest of New Zealand, PVwinter(UpperNI) is the performance value for winter dry matter production in the Upper North Island region, and NUpperNI is the number of trials in the Upper North Island region. The merged performance value for this cultivar is +150 kg DM/ha. In effect the data from the four trials undertaken in the Rest of New Zealand are equivalent to one trial in the Upper North Island so that the average matches the merged value. Alternatively, if the cultivar had participated in two trials in the Rest of New Zealand then the merged performance value for this cultivar would be +167 kg DM/ha, as the single trial in the Upper North Island has a higher weighting (effectively 2:1) than the two trials in the Rest of New Zealand.

Calculation of FVI Once the performance value for each of the seasonal DM production traits are calculated, the FVI for a cultivar is calculated as the sum product of the performance values multiplied by their respective economic values in the following equation:

ix ij FVIi=∑(PV DMa × EV DMa )

Equation 2

where: ix

PVDMa is the performance value for i cultivar in x mega environment (Upper North Island or Rest of New Zealand for Perennial ryegrasses and North Island or South Island for the short term ryegrasses) in season a (See Table 8 for ij seasons) as is further described in the next section. The EVDMa is the economic value for the dry matter yield trait for

cultivar i in dairy region j (Upper North Island, Lower North Island, Upper South Island and Lower South Island), in season a, as is also described with an example in more detail in the next section.


Detailed explanation for current calculation of FVI An example of Equation 2 expanded with an example perennial ryegrass ‘Cultivar A’ for the Upper North Island using 2016/17 economic values for perennial ryegrass is shown below in Equation 3:

Aj Ax FVIA=∑(PV DMa × EV DMa )

Equation 3

A FVIUpperNI =(PVwin× EV win )+(PVES× EVES )+(PVLS× EVLS )+(PVsum× EVsum )

+ PVaut × EVaut )

[Equation 3 expanded]

Where PV is the performance value (in kg DM/ha) for each respective season (winter-‘win’, early spring‘ES’, late spring-‘LS’, summer-‘sum’, and autumn-‘aut’), and EV is the economic value (in $/kg DM) for each respective season (where economic values are explained in the next section), and for example if Cultivar A has 100 kg DM/ha PV for seasonal DM yield in each season it will have a FVI of $158/ha as follows: A (100×0.28)+(100×0.45)+(100×0.16)+(100×0.34)+(100×0.35)=$158/ha FVI UpperNI [Equation 3 with values].

Using economic values to calculate Forage Value Indices The economic value is the change in operating profit per unit change in the trait of interest (Figure 3). Economic values are estimated using a simulation model (Farmax Dairy Pro) and are based on regional average farm data in each of the dairy regions: Upper North Island, Lower North Island, Upper South Island, and Lower South Island. Although some performance values are calculated based on data that comes from outside a given dairy region, the economic values are calculated specifically for each of the four dairy regions. As provided in more detail by Chapman et al. (2017) base dairy farms system models representing typical farm performance were constructed for the four dairy regions. The base farms were notionally located in the Waikato (UNI), Manawatu (LNI), North Canterbury (USI), and Southland (LSI). The models were constructed in Farmax DairyPro using assumptions described in Table 3. The operating profit per hectare was calculated for each of the four base farms. The models were then reparameterized by adding 365 kg DM/ha of pasture in winter, early spring, late spring, summer or autumn through an adjustment to the seasonal pasture growth curve. The base farm was resimulated. In the new simulation a restricted range of management factors was manipulated to utilize the additional pasture while maintaining key system indicators (e.g. pasture cover, animal body condition score) within sustainable levels. Management manipulations in the new simulation were restricted to N fertiliser inputs, hay/silage conservation, length of grazing rotation and the feeding of supplements. The difference in farm operating profit between the new simulation and the base simulation was calculated, and the EV for seasonal dry matter yield was derived using Equation 4 and follows the process depicted in Figure 3.

Economic value =


change in operating profit change in trait of interest

[4]

Figure 3: Simplified representation

Calculate performance for representative dairy farm (Base)

of how economic values for seasonal dry matter production are calculated for the Forage Value Index.

Simulate a change in each trait independently (Trait Change)

Calculate difference in physical performance between Base and Trait Change

Apply economic assumptions (reviewed annually)

Economic value The simulation model uses assumptions outlined in Table 3, Table 4 and price and cost assumptions in Table 5. Assumptions are updated annually to produce the economic values for perennial ryegrass (Table 6) and short term ryegrasses (Table 7) for each season based on ‘seasons’ defined in Table 8.

Farm system summaries Table 3: Assumptions used for estimating economic values for seasonal dry matter production using FarmaxPro for the four dairy regions in the 2016/17 update of the Forage Value Index. Upper North

Lower North

Upper South

Lower South

Island

Island

Island

Island

Effective area

106

91

200

171

Stocking rate (cows/ha)

3.05

3.05

3.43

3.28

Milksolids (kg/ha)

1,003

1,018

1,359

1,228

Milksolids (kg/cow)

329

333

396

374

Lactation length (days)

262

256

271

254

Pasture eaten (t DM/ha)

11.04

12.14

12.00

12.67

Forage crops (t DM/ha)

0

0

0

0

Conserved feed (t DM/ha)

0.33

0.51

0.67

0.28

Bought-in feeds (t DM/ha)

1.66

0.82

1.86

1.10

Total feed eaten (t DM/ha)

13.03

13.47

14.52

14.05

Total supplements/feed eaten (%)

15.3

9.8

17.4

9.8

Bought feed/feed eaten (%)

12.8

6.1

12.8

7.8

Nitrogen applied (kg/ha)

140

118

201

157

Effective area

106

91

200

171

Stocking rate (cows/ha)

3.05

3.05

3.43

3.28


Farm system summaries Table 4: Example of how key parameters in the representative dairy farm for the Upper North Island (Waikato), modelled using Farmax DairyPro changed with changes in dry matter production in each season to calculate economic values for seasonal dry matter production Season in which dry matter production is increased Base (no change)

Winter

Early spring

Late spring

Summer

Autumn

N/A

+365

+365

+365

+365

+365

Effective hectares (ha/farm)

106

106

106

106

106

106

Peak cows milked (# cows)

323

323

323

323

323

323

Milk solids (kg MS/farm)

106371

106670

107442

107714

107839

107906

Nitrogen applied (kg N/farm)

14848

14848

14848

14848

14848

14848

Pasture silage (t DM/farm)

55

45

24

55

55

55

Palm Kernel (t DM/farm)

94

94

94

90

75

85

Maize silage (t DM/farm)

69

51

69

69

69

57

Calf meal (t DM/farm)

4

4

4

4

4

4

Bobby calf sales (kg/farm)

6000

6000

6000

6000

6000

6000

Cull cow sales (kg/farm)

13556

13576

13606

13606

13631

13606

Area regrassed (ha/farm)

10

10

10

10

10

10

Parameter Extra dry matter grown in season (kg DM)

Purchased supplements

Price and cost assumptions Table 5: Price and cost assumptions used in the estimation of economic values for seasonal dry matter production for the four dairy regions in the 2016/17 update of the Forage Value Index Category Milk price ($/kg milk solid)

$ $5.82

Source Fonterra historical 5 year rolling average*

Purchase prices Historical 2-year average from DairyNZ Economics

Pasture silage ($/tonne dry matter)

$361

Palm kernel ($/t)

$238

As above

Barley ($/t)

$364

As above

Maize silage ($/t DM)

$308

Genetic Technologies

Pasture silage conservation cost ($/t DM)

$271

2010 Lincoln Farm Budget Manual

Maize silage cost ($/t DM)

$133

Genetic Technologies

Average cull cow price ($/kg carcass)

$3.92

DairyNZ Economics (2 year rolling average)

Regrassing costs ($/ha)

$923

Pasture Renewal Charitable Trust

Group

*5 year rolling average included 2016/17 forecasted price as at September 2016.


Economic values of seasonal dry matter production for perennial ryegrass Table 6: Economic values (EV in $/kg DM change in trait) for perennial ryegrass seasonal dry matter production traits used in the 2016/17 Forage Value Index. Upper North

Lower North

Upper South

Lower South

Island

Island

Island

Island

Winter EV

$0.28

$0.36

$0.42

$0.36

Early Spring EV

$0.45

$0.44

$0.38

$0.41

Late Spring EV

$0.16

$0.11

$0.28

$0.17

Summer EV

$0.34

$0.30

$0.13

$0.07

Autumn EV

$0.35

$0.27

$0.25

$0.22

Note: The months for each season vary by region as indicated in Table 8 Table 7: Economic values (EV in $/kg DM change in trait) for short term ryegrass seasonal dry matter production traits used in the 2016/17 Forage Value Index.

Upper North

Lower North

Upper South

Lower South

Island

Island

Island

Island

Establishment EV

$0.34

$0.30

$0.36

$0.36

Winter EV

$0.38

$0.43

$0.41

$0.37

Early Spring EV

$0.33

$0.37

$0.37

$0.43

Late Spring EV

$0.21

$0.20

$0.28

$0.17

Summer EV

$0.32

$0.31

$0.13

$0.07


Seasons used in the Forage Value Index The dates of each season are included in Table 8, and show a one month earlier start to early spring in the Upper and Lower North Island to reflect the warmer temperatures in those areas compared to the South Island for perennial ryegrasses. When seasonal metabolisable energy concentration performance values are included in the FVI, the same seasons as shown in Table 8 will be used. However, the current perennial FVI lists only include an overall annual average ME concentration value for each cultivar. Table 8: Seasons used in the estimation of Forage Value Index for perennial and shorter term ryegrasses

Forage type/ dairy region

‘Season’ and months related to that season Est.¹

Winter

Early Spring

Late Spring

Summer

Autumn

Perennial ryegrass (UNI)

N/A

May-June

July-Aug

Sept-Oct

Nov-Jan

Feb-Apr

Perennial ryegrass (LNI)

N/A

May-June

July-Aug

Sept-Oct

Nov-Jan

Feb-Apr

Perennial ryegrass (USI)

N/A

June-July

Aug-Sept

Oct-Nov

Dec-Feb

Mar-May

Perennial ryegrass (LSI)

N/A

June-July

Aug-Sept

Oct-Nov

Dec-Feb

Mar-May

12 month ryegrass (UNI)

Mar-May

June-July

Aug-Sept

Oct-Nov

Dec-Feb

N/A

12 month ryegrass (LNI)

Mar-May

June-July

Aug-Sept

Oct-Nov

Dec-Feb

N/A

12 month ryegrass (USI)

Mar-May

June-July

Aug-Sept

Oct-Nov

Dec-Feb

N/A

12 month ryegrass (LSI)

Mar-May

June-July

Aug-Sept

Oct-Nov

Dec-Feb

N/A

Winter feed ryegrass (UNI)

Mar-May

June-July

Aug-Sept

N/A

N/A

N/A

Winter feed ryegrass (LNI)

Mar-May

June-July

Aug-Sept

N/A

N/A

N/A

Winter feed ryegrass (USI)

Mar-May

June-July

Aug-Sept

N/A

N/A

N/A

Winter feed ryegrass (LSI)

Mar-May

June-July

Aug-Sept

N/A

N/A

N/A

¹Establishment.

Star Ratings for FVI and seasonal dry matter production performance values All cultivars are given a rating for their DairyNZ FVI and for individual performance values (PV). The 5 star ratings are calculated by taking the range in FVI or PV across all cultivars in the FVI list and dividing this range of FVI or PV into 5 equal ranged categories. As an example, consider a situation where the top cultivar has a FVI of $1000/ha and the bottom cultivar has a FVI of $1/ha. In this situation, any cultivars with a FVI of $801/ha to $1000/ha will be categorised as 5 star, and any cultivars with a FVI of $1/ha to $200/ha will be categorised as 1 star. This means some star rating categories may not necessarily have a cultivar in them if there are a small number of cultivars in the list. Ideally farmers should use cultivars that are a minimum of four stars for DairyNZ FVI as these cultivars are expected to maximise farm profit. It is important to note that within a FVI star rating band in the Cultivar Selector Tool, cultivars are randomly assigned an order. While in the FVI Lists cultivars are assigned an alphabetical order within each star rating category. Therefore, farmers should use the star ratings for seasonal dry matter production PV to make finer scale selections to increase emphasis on a desired trait.


Metabolisable energy concentration information DairyNZ will wait until there is sufficient metabolisable energy concentration trial data before this trait is included in the FVI calculation (see next section for proposed method of including this trait in the FVI calculation). In the interim, DairyNZ publishes trial data that is currently available. Instead of calculating performance values with the limited ME concentration trait data, DairyNZ publishes the mean ME concentration values for each cultivar across the year. Cultivars without trial data in a particular region will be assigned a “NT” to denote that it has no trial data for the ME concentration trait. The ME concentration results are presented in one column in the ‘other cultivar information’ section of the Cultivar Selector Tool and perennial ryegrass FVI Lists as the mean value across all 5 seasons of the year. It is important to note that although the new ME concentration results indicate tetraploids generally have greater ME concentration, the grazing management and persistence of the tetraploid ryegrasses must be taken into account when making a cultivar selection decision.

Star Ratings for seasonal metabolisable energy concentration performance values Star ratings for seasonal metabolisable energy are not currently included in the Cultivar Selector Tool or the FVI lists. When star ratings for seasonal metabolisable energy concentration are included in the FVI lists they will be based on a similar method as has been described for star ratings for FVI. The 5 star ratings for seasonal metabolisable energy concentration will be calculated by taking the range in metabolisable energy concentration across all cultivars in the FVI List and dividing this range of metabolisable energy concentration into 5 equal ranged categories. Cultivars without nutritive value data will be assigned the lowest ME concentration performance value star rating of its ‘functional group’. The two functional groups will consist of ‘mid-heading diploids’ and ‘tetraploids’. For example, if any diploid cultivar did not have a trial in the South Island, then it would receive the lowest ME concentration star rating in each season from a mid -heading diploid cultivar. This is to encourage seed companies to enter new cultivars in future nutritive value trials. Please also see the next section (‘Future Forage Value Index’) where the ME concentration trait is explained in more detail.

Confidence Values All cultivars are given a confidence value. Confidence is calculated as the number of trials within a region plus the number of trials out of a region multiplied by the correlation between regions. The confidence value indicates the likelihood that its star rating will change. Those with low confidence values (e.g. 4) are more likely to change as more NFVT results become available. Cultivars with confidence of 10+ have at least 10 NFVT results included in their estimate of FVI.

Future Forage Value Index Metabolisable energy (ME) concentration and pasture persistence are traits that are the next traits to be included in the FVI. In addition, an assessment will be made as to how environmental traits could be included.

Metabolisable energy trait The Forage Value Index is currently an economic index based on seasonal dry matter production. However, the metabolisable energy concentration trait (e.g. ME concentration) is known to have an economic value to pasture based dairy farms (Ludemann et al. 2015; Wims et al. In Press). The ME concentration is quantified as the megajoules of metabolisable energy per kilogram of dry matter (MJME/kg DM).


ME concentration data currently available as at February 2017: •

Two years of cultivar ME concentration data from 2 trials at the Lincoln University Research Dairy Farm (Canterbury) as at February 2017.

•

One year of cultivar ME concentration data from the Scott farm (Waikato) trial with DairyNZ continuing to measure this trait on this trial for a further year

We will analyse the second year of data (late 2017) for cultivar ME concentration from Scott farm to decide whether there is sufficient data to include this trait in the FVI calculation. In the meantime, the 2017 perennial FVI lists includes annual average ME concentration results as ‘additional information’ as is shown in the Appendix. When sufficient ME concentration is available we will use the following equation for incorporating the seasonal ME concentration trait into the FVI:

ix ix ij ix ij FVIi=∑((PVDMa × EVDMa ) + (LSMDMa × PVMEa × EVMEa ))

ix

ij

The ∑(PVDMa × EVDMa ) component has been explained previously in Equation 2, and a detailed description of each of the other components are described in the next section.

Detailed explanation for including ME concentration into FVI equation: FVIi FVIi is the Forage Value Index for cultivar i when it includes the seasonal dry matter (DM) and Metabolisable Energy Concentration (ME) traits (in units of $/ha/year)

i,x

LSMDMa i,x

LSMDMa is the least square mean value for dry matter herbage production for cultivar i in season a, (described in more detail in the description of equation 2 by Chapman et al. (2017),

ix

PVDMa ix

PVDMa is the performance value for perennial ryegrass dry matter (DM) herbage production for cultivar i in ‘mega-environment’ x and season a. Where x is the Upper North Island mega-environment and y is the ‘Rest of New Zealand’ mega-environment (‘RoNZ’, which includes Lower North Island, Upper South Island and Lower South Island). The seasons for a include winter, early spring, later spring, summer and autumn as elaborated further by Chapman et al. (2017).

ix

The PVDMa is calculated as:

ix PVDMa =

i,x i,y i,y x,y (LSM DMa × N i,x DM )(LSM DMa × N DM × r DM )

(N

i,x DM

i,y

x,y

× (N DM × r DM )

x - GBDMa

Where: i,x

NDM is the number of herbage dry matter production trials for cultivar i in mega-environment x,


[2]

i,y

LSMDMa is the least square mean value for herbage dry matter production for cultivar i in season a in megaenvironment y (described in more detail by Chapman et al. (2017)),

i,y

NDM is the number of herbage dry matter production trials for cultivar i in mega-environment y, x,y rDM is the Pearson (r) phenotypic correlations for herbage dry matter production for season a between megaenvironments x and y, and,

x

GBDMa is the least square mean value of herbage dry matter production for all genetic base cultivars that entered the National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) programme prior to 1996 for mega-environment x and season a. EV ij

DMa

ij EVDMa is the economic value for the perennial ryegrass herbage dry matter production, for cultivar i, in region j (where regions are split into the Upper North Island, Lower North Island, Upper South Island and the Lower South Island as described by Chapman et al. (2017)) in season a:

EV ij = DMa

∆ operating profit [3] ∆ DM trait

using Farmax simulation models as described by Chapman et al. (2017) and in the ‘Using economic values to calculate FVI’s’ section of this handbook. PV ix

MEa

ix

PV MEa is the performance value for the perennial ryegrass metabolisable energy concentration of herbage dry matter, for cultivar i, in region x in season a, where region x is either the Upper North Island or the Rest of New Zealand, and the 5 seasons (for a) are the same as for the dry matter herbage production trait (winter, early spring, late spring, ix summer and autumn). The PV MEa is calculated as follows: ix i,x x PV MEa = LSM MEa - LSMGB MEa [4].

Where: It must be noted that only three experiments (nutritive value trials) have been conducted to assess the metabolisable energy concentration of perennial ryegrass (two, two-year nutritive value experiments at Lincoln in the South Island, and one from a one-year nutritive value experiment at Newstead in the North Island). Therefore the least square i,x mean value for seasonal metabolisable energy concentration (LSM MEa ), can be calculated using analysis of variance fitting cultivar and trial as fixed effects as shown in equation 5 for cultivars with multiple trials, and as shown in equation 5a for cultivars with a single trial. Yijk=μ+Vi+Tj+eijk [5] (for cultivars in multiple nutritive value trials) Yijk=μ+Vi+eijk [5a] (for cultivars in a single nutritive value trial) Where: Yijk= the metabolisable energy concentration (ME) of ith perennial ryegrass cultivar in jth nutritive value trial i,x (equivalent to LSM MEa )

μ=the grand mean, Vi=fixed effects of variety ith, Tj=fixed effects of the jth trial, and, eijk=the residual random effect


And, x i,x LSMGB MEa is the mean value for LSM MEa for cultivars that entered the National Forage Variety Trial (NFVT) programme prior to 1996. i,j EV MEa i,j EV MEa is the economic value of additional metabolisable energy concentration in herbage dry matter for cultivar i in region j calculated using:

i,j EV MEa =

∆ operating profit [6] ∆ ME trait

using Farmax simulation models similarly to how the economic value for herbage dry matter was calculated as described by Chapman et al. (2017). However, it was agreed that the FVI should be calculated using one economic value for metabolisable energy across all regions for each season using the mean value across all regions for each season so there is only one region ‘j’ for New Zealand.

Economic values of seasonal metabolisable energy concentration trait for perennial ryegrass Economic values for seasonal metabolisable energy concentration will follow a similar method to that used for calculating economic values for seasonal dry matter yield (see diagrammatic representation in Figure 4). The same farm system assumptions will be used for the four dairy regions (Table 3) as well as the price and cost assumptions shown in Table 5. Figure 4: A simplified representation for how economic values for the metabolisable energy concentration trait will

Energy concentration (MJ/kg DM)

be calculated for the Forage Value Index, where MJ = megajoules.

11.2

‘Extra’ MJ of energy

11

‘Extra’ MJ of energy

‘Base’ MJ of energy

0

1000

Dry matter production in kg DM/ha/season

Preliminary economic values for metabolisable energy concentration using the aforementioned assumptions are included for reference in Table 9. As already mentioned, it is proposed that the average economic values across all regions will be used in the calculation of cultivar FVI when the metabolisable energy concentration trait is included in the FVI calculation.


Table 9: Economic values (EV in $/MJME change in trait) for perennial ryegrass seasonal dry matter production traits not yet used in the 2016/17 Forage Value Index (only included here for reference). Season

Upper North

Lower North

Upper South

Lower South

Island

Island

Island

Avg across regions

Winter EV

$0.02

$0.03

$0.06

$0.01

$0.03

Early spring EV

$0.05

$0.11

$0.04

$0.07

$0.07

Late spring EV

$0.05

$0.05

$0.10

$0.09

$0.07

Summer EV

$0.10

$0.06

$0.08

$0.09

$0.08

Autumn EV

$0.08

$0.05

$0.06

$0.10

$0.07

Note: The month for each season vary by region as indicated in Table 8.

Pasture persistence trait DairyNZ is developing methods to include the pasture persistence trait into the Forage Value Index. Currently a lack of long term pasture persistence data is a limiting factor for the inclusion of this trait into the Forage Value Index. However, longer term trials are being measured to address this gap.

Environmental traits DairyNZ will assess the relative importance of environmental traits to get an indication of priority for inclusion into the FVI. Environmental traits assessed may relate to nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and greenhouse gas emissions (methane and nitrous oxide). However, the top priority will be to successfully include the ME concentration and persistence trait into the FVI.


Appendix


22 | DairyNZ Forage Value Index – handbook 2 1 1 3 2

Bronte AR1 Nui SE Pacific SE Rohan NEA2 SF Stellar AR1

$86 to $220

��

1 1

2 3 3 1 2

1 3 3 3 3

3 3 4 4 3 3 3 3

4 4 5 5 4 4

4 4 3 4 5

1 1

1 2 4 1 3

3 2 4 2 3

3 2 3 3 3 1 2 4

4 5 3 3 5 3

4 4 3 4 5

Late spring

1 1

2 1 1 2 1

4 3 1 1 2

4 4 4 3 3 4 4 2

4 4 4 4 4 4

5 5 5 5 5

Summer

Dry matter (DM) Early spring

1 1

1 1 1 3 1

3 2 1 2 2

3 4 2 3 3 4 4 5

4 3 3 4 4 4

5 5 5 4 4

Autumn

WE WE

AR1 SE SE NEA2 AR1

AR1 AR1 AR37 AR37 SE

AR1 NEA2 AR1 AR1 AR37 AR37 AR1 AR37

AR37 AR1 AR1 SE AR37 AR1

AR37 AR37 AR37 AR37 NEA2

Endo3

D D

D D D D D

D T T D D

D T D D D T D D

D D D D D D

T D D D D

Ploidy4

L L

L M M M M

L VL L M M

L VL M L L VL L M

L L M VL M L

VL M L L L

HD5

Genetic Technologies Ltd Genetic Technologies Ltd

DLF Seeds Common PGG Wrightson Seeds Agriseeds Seed Force

Genetic Technologies Ltd PGG Wrightson Seeds Agricom Agricom Agricom

Agriseeds Agriseeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agricom Agricom PGG Wrightson Seeds

Agriseeds DLF Seeds Agriseeds Cropmark Agricom Cropmark

PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agricom Agricom Agriseeds

Marketer

Other cultivar information

2 4

3 10+ 4 4 7

4 2 4 5 10+

10+ 10+ 2 7 4 10+ 10+ 3

10+ 3 8 7 9 10+

7 3 10+ 10+ 10+

Conf6

12.6 12.5

12.1 NT NT NT 12.4

12.5 12.4 NT NT NT

12.3 12.6 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.4 12.2 12.1

12.3 12.3 NT 12.4 12.2 12.2

12.4 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.3

Interim metabolisable energy concentration (MJME/kg DM)7

Evaluation date: 10/11/2016

Forage Value Index

DairyNZ Limited and its agents and employees (“DairyNZ”) provide no assurance or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of information in the Forage Value Index or at www.dairynz.co.nz/fvi. DairyNZ has no liability for any reliance on that information.

Cultivars included in the FVI lists without a star rating have enough trials to be eligible for the FVI, however they were excluded from the FVI Star Ratings due to poor performance in those trials.

1

5 = top rank, 1 = bottom rank, , 2 Winter = Winter dry matter production (May-June), Early Spring = Early spring dry matter production (July-Aug), Late Spring = Late spring dry matter production (Sept-Oct), Summer = Summer dry matter production (NovJan), Autumn = Autumn dry matter production (Feb-Apr), 3 Endophyte, WE is without endophyte, 4 Ploidy (D=Diploid, T=Tetraploid). 5 Heading date (M=Mid, L=Late, VL=Very late), 6 Confidence (number of trials). 7 UNI ME concentration data based on 1 year of trial data from the Waikato. NT=No trial data available. For more information visit dairynz.co.nz/fvi

$-583 to $-575

1 1

2 3 4 4 2

AberMagic AR1 Base AR1 Ohau AR37 Samson AR37 Samson SE

$220 to $354

��

AberGreen WE AberMagic WE

3 4 2 3 5 4 3 3

Alto AR1 Bealey NEA2 Excess AR1 Expo AR1 Expo AR37 Halo AR37 One50 AR1 Rely AR37

$354 to $487

��

�

5 4 2 3 5 4

Alto AR37 Ansa AR1 Arrow AR1 Matrix SE Request AR37 Ultra AR1

$487 to $621

��

$-48 to $86

4 5 5 5 5

Winter

Base AR37 Excess AR37 One50 AR37 Prospect AR37 Trojan NEA2

Cultivar

FVI Star Rating ($/ha)

Performance Values2 (1-5 rating)

Cultivars are sorted by star rating and then alphabetically. Note: Perennial ryegrass FVI is currently a combination of seasonal dry matter performance values and economic values. Metabolisable energy performance values are not yet included in the FVI calculation and are shown below as additional information until sufficient trial data becomes available. Cultivars with SE are not recommended as they can cause ryegrass staggers in summer and may reduce milksolid production at this time. Cultivars with AR1 endophyte are not recommended in the UNI as they provide limited protection against black beetle.

FVI1 (Star rating)

Upper Nth. Island

Perennial Ryegrass Forage Value List

FVI Lists for perennial ryegrass

23 | DairyNZ Forage Value Index – handbook 2 3 3 2 3 4 3 4

AberMagic AR1 Alto AR1 Base AR1 Excess AR1 Expo AR1 Expo AR37 Rely AR37 Samson AR37

$280 to $404

��

1 1

3 3 3

3 3 1 3

1 3 4 4 4 2 3 5

4 3 2 5 2 4

4 5 4 3 3 4 5 5

Early spring

5 3

1 1 2

2 2 1 1

5 3 4 1 3 2 3 2

3 3 2 2 2 3

4 5 4 3 3 2 3 5

Late spring

2 1

1 1 1

2 2 2 2

4 4 3 3 3 3 3 1

4 4 4 4 4 4

4 4 5 5 5 5 4 5

Summer

1 1

1 1 1

1 1 3 2

3 3 2 2 3 2 5 2

3 4 4 4 4 4

4 4 5 5 5 4 4 4

Autumn

WE WE

SE SE AR1

AR1 AR37 NEA2 SE

AR1 AR1 AR1 AR1 AR1 AR37 AR37 AR37

AR1 NEA2 AR37 SE AR1 AR1

AR37 AR1 AR37 AR37 AR37 AR37 AR37 NEA2

Endo3

D D

D D D

D T D D

D D T D D D D D

D T T D D D

D D T D D D D D

Ploidy4

L L

M M M

L L M M

L L VL M L L M M

L VL VL VL L L

L M VL M L L M L

HD5


Common PGG Wrightson Seeds Seed Force

DLF Seeds Agricom Agriseeds Agricom

Genetic Technologies Ltd Agriseeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agricom

DLF Seeds Agriseeds Agricom Cropmark Agricom Cropmark

Agriseeds Agriseeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agricom Agricom Agricom Agriseeds

Marketer


3 6

10+ 6 7

4 4 4 10+

4 10+ 3 3 9 4 3 5

4 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+ 10+

10+ 10+ 8 3 10+ 10+ 8 10+

Conf6

NT NT

12.6 NT 12.8

12.7 NT 12.7 12.7

NT 12.7 12.8 12.7 12.8 12.8 12.6 12.7

NT 12.9 12.8 12.9 12.7 12.6

12.7 12.7 12.8 12.7 12.7 12.6 12.6 12.7



Forage Value Index



1

5 = top rank, 1 = bottom rank, , 2 Winter = Winter dry matter production (May-June), Early Spring = Early spring dry matter production (July-Aug), Late Spring = Late spring dry matter production (Sept-Oct), Summer = Summer dry matter production (Nov-Jan), Autumn = Autumn dry matter production (Feb-Apr), 3 Endophyte, WE is without endophyte, 4 Ploidy (D=Diploid, T=Tetraploid). 5 Heading date (M=Mid, L=Late, VL=Very late), 6 Confidence (number of trials). 7 Rest of NZ (LNI, USI, LSI) ME concentration data based on 2 years of trial data from Canterbury. NT=No trial data available. For more information visit dairynz.co.nz/fvi

1 1

�


1 1 1

Nui SE Pacific SE SF Stellar AR1

$-93 to $31

��

$-401 to $-266

2 4 3 2

Bronte AR1 Ohau AR37 Rohan NEA2 Samson SE

$31 to $155

$155 to $280

4 4 4 3 3 4

Ansa AR1 Bealey NEA2 Halo AR37 Matrix SE One50 AR1 Ultra AR1

$404 to $528

��

��

5 3 4 5 5 5 5 5

Winter

Alto AR37 Arrow AR1 Base AR37 Excess AR37 One50 AR37 Prospect AR37 Request AR37 Trojan NEA2

Cultivar


Dry matter (DM)


Cultivars are sorted by star rating and then alphabetically. Note: Perennial ryegrass FVI is currently a combination of seasonal dry matter performance values and economic values. Metabolisable energy performance values are not yet included in the FVI calculation and are shown below as additional information until sufficient trial data becomes available. Cultivars with SE are not recommended as they can cause ryegrass staggers in summer and may reduce milksolid production at this time.

FVI1 (Star rating)

Lower Nth. Island



24 | DairyNZ Forage Value Index – handbook 1 1 3 1

Nui SE Pacific SE Rohan NEA2 SF Stellar AR1

$29 to $137

$-78 to $29

��

� 1 1

3 3 1 3

3 4 3 3

1 3 4 2 2 2 5

4 4 3 5 4 3 4

4 5 4 3 3 5 5

5 3

1 1 1 2

2 1 2 1

5 3 3 2 2 2 2

3 4 3 2 2 3 3

4 5 4 3 3 3 5

Late spring

2 1

1 1 2 1

2 3 2 2

4 4 3 3 4 4 1

4 3 4 4 5 3 4

4 4 5 5 5 4 5

Summer


1 1

1 1 3 1

1 2 1 2

3 3 3 2 4 4 2

3 2 4 4 4 5 4

4 4 5 5 5 4 4

Autumn

WE WE

SE SE NEA2 AR1

AR1 AR1 AR37 SE

AR1 AR1 AR1 AR37 AR37 AR1 AR37

AR1 AR1 NEA2 SE AR37 AR37 AR1

AR37 AR1 AR37 AR37 AR37 AR37 NEA2

Endo3

D D

D D D D

D D T D

D D D D T D D

D T T D D D D

D D T D D D D

Ploidy4

L L

M M M M

L M L M

L L L L VL L M

L VL VL VL L M L

L M VL M L M L

HD5


Common PGG Wrightson Seeds Agriseeds Seed Force

DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agricom Agricom

Genetic Technologies Ltd Agriseeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agricom Agricom Agricom

DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agriseeds Cropmark Agricom PGG Wrightson Seeds Cropmark

Agriseeds Agriseeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agricom Agricom Agriseeds

Marketer


3 6

10+ 6 4 7

4 3 4 10+

4 10+ 9 4 10+ 10+ 5

4 3 10+ 10+ 10+ 3 10+

10+ 10+ 8 3 10+ 8 10+

Conf6

NT NT

12.6 NT 12.7 12.8

12.7 12.7 NT 12.7

NT 12.7 12.8 12.8 12.8 12.7 12.7

NT 12.8 12.9 12.9 12.6 12.6 12.6

12.7 12.7 12.8 12.7 12.7 12.6 12.7



Forage Value Index



1

5 = top rank, 1 = bottom rank, , 2 Winter = Winter dry matter production (June-July), Early Spring = Early spring dry matter production (Aug-Sept), Late Spring = Late spring dry matter production (Oct-Nov), Summer = Summer dry matter production (Dec-Feb), Autumn = Autumn dry matter production (Mar-May), 3 Endophyte, WE is without endophyte, 4 Ploidy (D=Diploid, T=Tetraploid). 5 Heading date (M=Mid, L=Late, VL=Very late), 6 Confidence (number of trials). 7 Rest of NZ (LNI, USI, LSI) ME concentration data based on 2 years of trial data from Canterbury. NT=No trial data available. For more information visit dairynz.co.nz/fvi.

$-314 to $-183

1 1

2 2 4 2

Bronte AR1 Excess AR1 Ohau AR37 Samson SE

$137 to $244

��


2 3 3 4 4 3 4

$244 to $351

AberMagic AR1 Alto AR1 Expo AR1 Expo AR37 Halo AR37 One50 AR1 Samson AR37

��

4 3 4 3 5 3 4

Ansa AR1 Base AR1 Bealey NEA2 Matrix SE Prospect AR37 Rely AR37 Ultra AR1

$351 to $458

��

Winter 5 3 4 5 5 5 5

Cultivar

Alto AR37 Arrow AR1 Base AR37 Excess AR37 One50 AR37 Request AR37 Trojan NEA2


2

Performance Values (1-5 rating)

Metabolisable energy performance values are not yet included in the FVI calculation and are shown below as additional information until sufficient trial data becomes available. Cultivars with SE are not recommended as they can cause ryegrass staggers in summer and may reduce milksolid production at this time.

Cultivars are sorted by star rating and then alphabetically. Note: Perennial ryegrass FVI is currently a combination of seasonal dry matter performance values and economic values.

FVI1 (Star rating)

Upper Sth. Island



25 | DairyNZ Forage Value Index – handbook 4 3 3 3 4 3 4 2 3 4 4 3 4 2 2 4 2 1 1 3 1 1 1

Ansa AR1 Base AR1 Matrix SE Rely AR37 Ultra AR1

Alto AR1 Bealey NEA2 Excess AR1 Expo AR1 Expo AR37 Halo AR37 One50 AR1 Samson AR37

AberMagic AR1 Bronte AR1 Ohau AR37 Samson SE

Nui SE Pacific SE Rohan NEA2 SF Stellar AR1


$269 to $352

$185 to $269

$102 to $185

$19 to $102

$-64 to $19

$-305 to $-215

��

��

��

��

� 1 1

3 3 1 3

1 3 3 3

3 3 4 4 2 2 2 5

4 4 5 3 4

4 5 4 3 3 4 5 5

5 3

1 1 1 2

5 2 2 1

3 3 1 3 2 2 2 2

3 4 2 3 3

4 5 4 3 3 2 3 5

Late spring

2 1

1 1 2 1

4 2 2 2

4 4 3 3 3 4 4 1

4 3 4 3 4

4 4 5 5 5 5 4 5

Summer


1 1

1 1 3 1

3 1 1 2

3 4 2 3 2 4 4 2

3 2 4 5 4

4 4 5 5 5 4 4 4

Autumn

WE WE

SE SE NEA2 AR1

AR1 AR1 AR37 SE

AR1 NEA2 AR1 AR1 AR37 AR37 AR1 AR37

AR1 AR1 SE AR37 AR1

AR37 AR1 AR37 AR37 AR37 AR37 AR37 NEA2

Endo3

D D

D D D D

D D T D

D T D D D T D D

D T D D D

D D T D D D D D

Ploidy4

L L

M M M M

L L L M

L VL M L L VL L M

L VL VL M L

L M VL M L L M L

HD5


Common PGG Wrightson Seeds Agriseeds Seed Force

Genetic Technologies Ltd DLF Seeds Agricom Agricom

Agriseeds Agriseeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agricom Agricom Agricom

DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Cropmark PGG Wrightson Seeds Cropmark

Agriseeds Agriseeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agricom Agricom Agricom Agriseeds

Marketer


3 6

10+ 6 4 7

4 4 4 10+

10+ 10+ 3 9 4 10+ 10+ 5

4 3 10+ 3 10+

10+ 10+ 8 3 10+ 10+ 8 10+

Conf6

NT NT

12.6 NT 12.7 12.8

NT 12.7 NT 12.7

12.7 12.9 12.7 12.8 12.8 12.8 12.7 12.7

NT 12.8 12.9 12.6 12.6

12.7 12.7 12.8 12.7 12.7 12.6 12.6 12.7



Forage Value Index



1

5 = top rank, 1 = bottom rank, , 2 Winter = Winter dry matter production (June-July), Early Spring = Early spring dry matter production (Aug-Sept), Late Spring = Late spring dry matter production (Oct-Nov), Summer = Summer dry matter production (Dec-Feb), Autumn = Autumn dry matter production (Mar-May), 3 Endophyte, WE is without endophyte 4 Ploidy (D=Diploid, T=Tetraploid). 5 Heading date (M=Mid, L=Late, VL=Very late), 6 Confidence (number of trials). 7 Rest of NZ (LNI, USI, LSI) ME concentration data based on 2 years of trial data from Canterbury. NT=No trial data available. For more information visit dairynz.co.nz/fvi.

5 3 4 5 5 5 5 5

Winter

Alto AR37 Arrow AR1 Base AR37 Excess AR37 One50 AR37 Prospect AR37 Request AR37 Trojan NEA2

Cultivar



Cultivars are sorted by star rating and then alphabetically. Note: Perennial ryegrass FVI is currently a combination of seasonal dry matter performance values and economic values. Metabolisable energy performance values are not yet included in the FVI calculation and are shown below as additional information until sufficient trial data becomes available. Cultivars with SE are not recommended as they can cause ryegrass staggers in summer and may reduce milksolid production at this time.

FVI1 (Star rating)

Lower Sth. Island




$-179 to $42

�

Italian

l Moata WE

$42 to $263

��

Hybrid

n/a

$263 to $485

��

1

2 2 3 3 4 1

2 1 2 4

5

1

2 2 2 2 2 3

2 3 1 3

5

Late spring

1

3 3 2 2 3 3

4 4 4 4

5

Summer

WE

WE WE WE WE WE WE

AR37 WE AR37 WE

NEA

Endo3

T

L

VL L VL VL L L

L L L L

D D T D D T D T D D

VL

HD5

T

Ploidy4

Common

Cropmark PGG Wrightson Seeds DLF Seeds DLF Seeds Cropmark PGG Wrightson Seeds

Agricom Agricom PGG Wrightson Seeds Agriseeds

Agriseeds

Marketer


DairyNZ Limited and its agents and employees (“DairyNZ”) provide no assurance or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of information in the Forage Value Index or at www.dairynz.co.nz/fvi. DairyNZ has no liability for any reliance on that information.”

For more information visit www.dairynz.co.nz/fvi

10+

7 10+ 6 7 7 5

10+ 4 10+ 10+

4

Conf6


Forage Value Index

5= Top rank, 1 = Bottom rank, , 2EST = establishment dry matter production (Mar-May), Winter = Winter dry matter production (June-July), Early spring= Early spring dry matter production (Aug-Sept), Late spring = Late spring dry matter production (Oct-Nov), Summer = Summer dry matter production (Dec-Feb), 3Endophyte, WE is without endophyte, 4Ploidy (D=Diploid, T=Tetraploid), 5Heading date (M=Mid, L=Late, VL=Very Late), 6 Confidence (number of trials).

1

4 3 5 4 4 5

5 3 4 3 3 5

Blade WE Feast II WE Jackpot WE Mona WE Sonik WE Supercruise WE

l l l l l l

$485 to $706

��

1

5 2 5 5

4 3 5 4

Asset AR37 Asset WE Lush AR37 Tabu WE

l l l l

1

5

Early spring

Dry matter (DM) Winter

3

EST

n Shogun NEA

Cultivar

$706 to $927



Cultivars are sorted by star rating and then alphabetically. Note: • The short term ryegrasses are sown by dairy farmers for 12 month production • The FVI for 12 month ryegrasses is a combination of seasonal dry matter performance and economic values only • WE is without endophyte or also referred to as nil endophyte • 12 month options include Hybrid and Italian ryegrasses.

��

FVI1 (Star rating)

Upper Nth. Island

FVI Lists for 12 month ryegrass


$-174 to $47

�

1

1 2 2 3 3 4 1

2 2 4

5

1

3 2 2 2 2 2 3

2 1 3

5

Late spring

1

4 3 3 2 2 3 3

4 4 4

5

Summer

WE

WE WE WE WE WE WE WE

AR37 AR37 WE

NEA

Endo3

T

D D T D T D D

D T D

T

Ploidy4

L

L VL L VL VL L L

L L L

VL

HD5

Common

Agricom Cropmark PGG Wrightson Seeds DLF Seeds DLF Seeds Cropmark PGG Wrightson Seeds

Agricom PGG Wrightson Seeds Agriseeds

Agriseeds

Marketer




10+

4 7 10+ 6 7 7 5

10+ 10+ 10+

4

Conf6


Forage Value Index

1 5= Top rank, 1 = Bottom rank, , 2EST = establishment dry matter production (Mar-May), Winter = Winter dry matter production (June-July), Early spring= Early spring dry matter production (Aug-Sept), Late spring = Late spring dry matter production (Oct-Nov), Summer = Summer dry matter production (Dec-Feb), 3Endophyte, WE is without endophyte, 4Ploidy (D=Diploid, T=Tetraploid), 5Heading date (M=Mid, L=Late, VL=Very Late), 6 Confidence (number of trials).

Italian

l Moata WE

$47 to $268

��

Hybrid

n/a

$268 to $489

��

1

2 4 3 5 4 4 5

3 5 3 4 3 3 5

l l l l l l l

1

5 5 5

4 5 4

l Asset AR37 l Lush AR37 l Tabu WE

$489 to $710

��

Asset WE Blade WE Feast II WE Jackpot WE Mona WE Sonik WE Supercruise WE

5

Early spring


3

EST

n Shogun NEA

Cultivar

$710 to $931




��

FVI1 (Star rating)

Lower Nth. Island



$-55 to $102

�

Italian

l Moata WE

$102 to $258

��

Hybrid

n/a

$258 to $415

��

1

2 1 2 3 2 2 2

3 2 3

5

1

1 3 2 2 1 2 2

2 3 2

5

Late spring

1

4 5 4 2 4 2 3

3 3 4

5

Summer

WE

AR37 WE WE WE AR37 WE WE

WE WE WE

NEA

Endo3

T

D D T D T T D

D D D

T

Ploidy4

L

L L L VL L VL L

VL L L

VL

HD5

Common

Agricom Agricom PGG Wrightson Seeds DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds DLF Seeds Cropmark

Cropmark PGG Wrightson Seeds Agriseeds

Agriseeds

Marketer




10+

10+ 5 10+ 5 9 6 7

7 4 10+

3

Conf6


Forage Value Index


1

5 2 3 5 4 3 3

3 3 4 3 5 3 3

Asset AR37 Asset WE Feast II WE Jackpot WE Lush AR37 Mona WE Sonik WE

l l l l l l l

1

4 5 4

5 5 4

l Blade WE l Supercruise WE l Tabu WE

$415 to $572

��

1

4

Early spring


1

EST

n Shogun NEA

Cultivar

$572 to $728




��

FVI1 (Star rating)

Upper Sth. Island



Italian

$-38 to $82

�

Hybrid

l Moata WE

$82 to $202

�� 1

1

1

2 1 2 2 2

3 3 2 2 3

1

1 3 2 2 2

2 2 1 3 2

5

Late spring

1

4 5 4 2 3

3 2 4 3 4

5

Summer

WE

AR37 WE WE WE WE

WE WE AR37 WE WE

NEA

Endo3

T

D D T T D

D D T D D

T

Ploidy4

L

L L L VL L

VL VL L L L

VL

HD5

Common

Agricom Agricom PGG Wrightson Seeds DLF Seeds Cropmark

Cropmark DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrighton Seeds Agriseeds

Agriseeds

Marketer




10+

10+ 5 10+ 6 7

7 5 9 4 10+

3

Conf6


Forage Value Index


1

n/a

$202 to $322

��

5 2 3 3 3

3 3 4 3 3

Asset AR37 Asset WE Feast II WE Mona WE Sonik WE

l l l l l

$322 to $441

��

4 5 4 5 4

5 3 5 5 4

Blade WE Jackpot WE Lush AR37 Supercruise WE Tabu WE

l l l l l

5

Early spring

Dry matter (DM) Winter 4

EST 1

n Shogun NEA

Cultivar

$441 to $561




��

FVI1 (Star rating)

Lower Sth. Island



3 4 1 1

l Asset WE s Progrow WE

l Moata WE s Tama WE

$31 to $97

$-35 to $31

��

�

2 1

2 1

3 2

4

3 4 3 4 3 5 3 5 5

Early Spring

WE WE

WE WE

WE WE

WE

AR37 WE WE WE AR37 WE WE WE WE

Endo3

T T

D D

T T

T

D D T D T D D D T

Ploidy4

L L

L L

L L

VL

L VL L VL L L L L L

HD5

Common Common

Agricom Agricom

PGG Wrightson Seeds Cropmark

DLF Seeds

Agricom Cropmark Agriseeds DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Cropmark PGG Wrighton Seeds Agriseeds PGG Wrightson Seeds

Marketer


10+ 10+



3 5

10+ 3

6

10+ 6 5 6 8 6 5 10+ 5

Conf6


Forage Value Index

1 5= Top rank, 1 = Bottom rank, , 2EST = Establishment dry matter production (Mar-May), Winter = Winter dry matter production (Jun-July), Early spring= Early spring dry matter production (Aug, Sept), 3Endophyte, WE is without endophyte, 4Ploidy (D=Diploid, T=Tetraploid), 5Heading date (M=Mid, L=Late, VL=Very Late), 6Confidence (number of trials).

Italian

3 3

3 3

l Feast II WE s Zoom WE

$97 to $164

��

Annual

4

5 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 4

4 5 5 4 5 3 5 4 4 3

Asset AR37 Blade WE Hogan WE Jackpot WE Lush AR37 Sonik WE Supercruise WE Tabu WE Winter Star II WE

Winter

EST

Dry matter (DM)

l Mona WE

l l s l l l l l s

Cultivar

$164 to $230

$230 to $296



Cultivars are sorted by star rating and then alphabetically. Note: • The short term cultivars are sown by dairy farmers for fast establishing, high quality winter-spring production • The FVI for Winter Feed is a combination of seasonal dry matter performance and economic values only • WE is without endophyte or also referred to as nil endophyte • Winter Feed options include Annual and Italian ryegrasses

��

��

FVI1 (Star rating)

Upper Nth. Island

FVI Lists for winter feed ryegrass


3 4 1 1

l Asset WE s Progrow WE

l Moata WE s Tama WE

$35 to $105

$-34 to $35

��

�

2 1

2 1

3 2

4

3 4 3 4 3 5 3 5 5

Early Spring

WE WE

WE WE

WE WE

WE

AR37 WE WE WE AR37 WE WE WE WE

Endo3

T T

D D

T T

T

D D T D T D D D T

Ploidy4

L L

L L

L L

VL

L VL L VL L L L L L

HD5

Common Common

Agricom Agricom

PGG Wrightson Seeds Cropmark

DLF Seeds

Agricom Cropmark Agriseeds DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Cropmark PGG Wrighton Seeds Agriseeds PGG Wrightson Seeds

Marketer


10+ 10+



1

3 5

10+ 3

6

10+ 6 5 6 8 6 5 10+ 5

Conf6


Forage Value Index

5= Top rank, 1 = Bottom rank, , 2EST = Establishment dry matter production (Mar-May), Winter = Winter dry matter production (Jun-July), Early spring= Early spring dry matter production (Aug, Sept), 3Endophyte, WE is without endophyte, 4Ploidy (D=Diploid, T=Tetraploid), 5Heading date (M=Mid, L=Late, VL=Very Late), 6Confidence (number of trials).

Italian

3 3

3 3

l Feast II WE s Zoom WE

$105 to $175

��

Annual

4

3

l Mona WE

$175 to $244

5 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 4

4 5 5 4 5 3 5 4 4

��

Winter

EST

Dry matter (DM)

$244 to $314

Asset AR37 Blade WE Hogan WE Jackpot WE Lush AR37 Sonik WE Supercruise WE Tabu WE Winter Star II WE

Cultivar

��




l l s l l l l l s

FVI1 (Star rating)

Lower Nth. Island


32 | DairyNZ Forage Value Index – handbook 3 3 2 1 1 2

3 3 3 1 4 1

l Sonik WE s Zoom WE

l Asset WE

l Moata WE s Progrow WE s Tama WE

$175 to $242

$109 to $175

$42 to $109

$-25 to $42

��

��

Annual

2 1 1

2

3 4

3 3 4 4

5 4 5 4 3 5

Early Spring

WE WE WE

WE

WE WE

AR37 WE WE WE

WE WE WE AR37 WE WE

Endo3

T D T

D

D T

D T T T

D T D T D D

Ploidy4

L L L

L

L L

L L VL L

VL L VL L L L

HD5

Common Agricom Common

Agricom

Cropmark Cropmark

Agricom PGG Wrightson Seeds DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds

Cropmark Agriseeds DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agriseeds

Marketer




1

10+ 6 10+

5

5 4

8 10+ 4 4

5 4 3 7 3 10+

Conf6


Forage Value Index


�

Italian

5 3 3 4

3 4 3 4

Asset AR37 Feast II WE Mona WE Winter Star II WE

l l l s

$242 to $309

��

��

4 4 5 4 5 4

Winter

EST

Dry matter (DM)

5 5 3 5 5 4

Cultivar

Blade WE Hogan WE Jackpot WE Lush AR37 Supercruise WE Tabu WE




l s l l l l

FVI1 (Star rating)

Upper Sth. Island



3 1 4 1

l Asset WE

l Moata WE s Progrow WE s Tama WE

$112 to $181

$44 to $112

$-24 to $44

��

�

Annual

2 1 1

2

3 4

3 3 4 4 4

5 5 4 3 5

Early Spring

WE WE WE

WE

WE WE

AR37 WE WE WE WE

WE WE AR37 WE WE

Endo3

T D T

D

D T

D T T T T

D D T D D

Ploidy4

L L L

L

L L

L L L VL L

VL VL L L L

HD5

Common Agricom Common

Agricom

Cropmark Cropmark

Agricom PGG Wrightson Seeds Agriseeds DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds

Cropmark DLF Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds PGG Wrightson Seeds Agriseeds

Marketer




10+ 6 10+

5

5 4

8 10+ 4 4 4

5 3 7 3 10+

Conf6


Forage Value Index


1

3 3

3 3

l Sonik s Zoom WE

$181 to $249

��

Italian

5 3 4 3 4

3 4 5 3 4

Asset AR37 Feast II WE Hogan WE Mona WE Winter Star II WE

l l s l s

$249 to $317

��

��

4 5 4 5 4

Winter

EST

Dry matter (DM)

5 3 5 5 4

Cultivar

Blade WE Jackpot WE Lush AR37 Supercruise WE Tabu WE




l l l l l

FVI1 (Star rating)

Lower Sth. Island


Performance value star rating ranges Farmers and rural professionals may wish to analyse the implications of selecting the various FVI star rated cultivars for their situation. The ranges in performance value star ratings for seasonal dry matter production are therefore included in Tables 10 to 15 for reference.

Performance value star rating ranges for perennial ryegrass Table 10: The ranges in perennial ryegrass seasonal dry matter performance values (PV) for each star rating for the Upper North Island Seasonal dry matter yield PV for each star rating (kg DM/ha/season) Star

Winter

Early spring

Late spring

Summer

Autumn

1

-421 to -269

-448 to -317

-453 to -288

-401 to -176

-309 to -131

2

-269 to -117

-317 to -185

-288 to -123

-176 to 48

-131 to 47

3

-117 to 36

-185 to -53

-123 to 42

48 to 272

47 to 225

4

36 to 188

-53 to 78

42 to 208

272 to 497

225 to 404

5

188 to 340

78 to 210

208 to 373

497 to 721

404 to 582

rating

Table 11: The ranges in perennial ryegrass seasonal dry matter performance values (PV) for each star rating for the Rest of New Zealand (Lower North Island, Upper South Island and Lower South Island) Seasonal dry matter yield PV for each star rating (kg DM/ha/season) Stars

Winter

Early spring

Late spring

Summer

Autumn

5

-421 to -281

-367 to -252

-69 to 40

-288 to -81

-234 to -66

4

-281 to -141

-252 to -137

40 to 149

-81 to 127

-66 to 102

3

-141 to -1

-137 to -23

149 to 259

127 to 334

102 to 270

2

-1 to 139

-23 to 92

259 to 368

334 to 542

270 to 438

1

139 to 279

92 to 207

368 to 477

542 to 749

438 to 606

Performance value star rating ranges for 12 month ryegrass Table 12: The ranges in 12 month ryegrass seasonal dry matter performance values (PV) for each star rating for the North Island (Upper North Island and Lower North Island) Seasonal dry matter yield PV for each star rating (kg DM/ha/season) Star

Establishment

Early spring

Late spring

Summer

Autumn

1

-60 to 21

-86 to -4

28 to 111

32 to 221

-473 to -107

2

21 to 102

-4 to 79

111 to 194

221 to 411

-107 to 259

3

102 to 183

79 to 162

194 to 277

411 to 600

259 to 625

4

183 to 263

162 to 245

277 to 360

600 to 789

625 to 991

5

263 to 344

245 to 327

360 to 443

789 to 978

991 to 1358

rating


Table 13: The ranges in 12 month ryegrass seasonal dry matter performance values (PV) for each star rating for the South Island (Upper South Island and Lower South Island) Seasonal dry matter yield PV for each star rating (kg DM/ha/season) Star

Establishment

Early spring

Late spring

Summer

Autumn

1

-14 to 57

-46 to 31

-7 to 91

78 to 247

-397 to -32

2

57 to 128

31 to 108

91 to 190

247 to 416

-32 to 333

3

128 to 199

108 to 185

190 to 288

416 to 584

333 to 699

4

199 to 270

185 to 262

288 to 387

584 to 753

699 to 1064

5

270 to 341

262 to 339

387 to 485

753 to 922

1064 to 1429

rating

Performance value star rating ranges for winter feed ryegrass Table 14: The ranges in winter feed ryegrass seasonal dry matter performance values (PV) for each star rating for the North Island (Upper North Island and Lower North Island) Seasonal dry matter yield PV for each star rating (kg DM/ha/season) Star rating

Establishment

Winter

Early spring

1

-60 to 21

-86 to 0

-68 to 14

2

21 to 102

0 to 87

14 to 97

3

102 to 183

87 to 174

97 to 179

4

183 to 263

174 to 261

179 to 261

5

263 to 344

261 to 348

261 to 344

Table 15: The ranges in winter feed ryegrass seasonal dry matter performance values (PV) for each star rating for the South Island (Upper South Island and Lower South Island) Seasonal dry matter yield PV for each star rating (kg DM/ha/season) Star rating

Establishment

Winter

Early spring

1

-55 to 24

-73 to 9

-84 to -12

2

24 to 103

9 to 92

-12 to 60

3

103 to 182

92 to 174

60 to 132

4

182 to 261

174 to 256

132 to 204

5

261 to 341

256 to 339

204 to 276


Farmers questions Why use the Forage Value Index? The Forage Value Index provides an objective and independent method of comparing cultivars to support your cultivar selection decision. This is currently based on comparing seasonal dry matter production. However, your own, or a rural professional’s experience should also be used in combination with the FVI to determine how suitable a cultivar is for your farm.

Can I get a cultivar FVI for a more localised area of New Zealand? DairyNZ currently divides New Zealand up into four dairy regions for the FVI. This is so that we can use regionally specific cultivar performance data and economic values. However, if you would like to assess what the implications are for selecting certain cultivars for your specific situation, please refer to the performance value star rating range Tables (Tables 10-15), and seek expert advice if needed.

How easily can a cultivar receive an official FVI? •

A cultivar needs a minimum of three trials for any of the defined environments and at least one trial north of Taupo for national listing

•

To receive a FVI for Upper North Island at least one trial must be north of Taupo

•

To receive a FVI for Lower North Island, Upper South Island, or Lower South Island, at least one trial must be south of Taupo.

•

Exclusion applies if more than 50% of the trials are run by the proprietor of the variety. A random selection of trial results operated by the proprietor of the cultivar are excluded from the estimated FVI until at least 50% are run by operators that are not proprietors of the cultivar.

Is pasture persistence included in the FVI? The FVI currently uses short term (3 year trial) seasonal dry matter production data from the National Forage Variety Trial. However, there are plans to include pasture persistence in the FVI when adequate data becomes available. The NZ Plant Breeding and Research Association and DairyNZ are working on persistence trials. In the meantime, if you are concerned with pasture persistence on your farm it is advisable to use the FVI as a decision support tool in combination with your, or a rural professional’s experience of cultivar persistence in your area to determine the best cultivar for your situation.


Choosing cultivars’ -quick reads on related topics Heading dates Heading date is an important consideration when selecting appropriate perennial ryegrasses for different farm systems. Ryegrass seed head development reduces feed quality in late spring, so heading date is an important factor in determining when this change in feed quality occurs. Heading date also influences the earliness of spring growth. Heading date describes the time when 50% of seed heads have first appeared on a grass cultivar in spring. It is also known as the ‘ear emergence date’. Heading date is defined in days, relative to Grasslands Nui in a “typical year”. The FVI uses the following definitions for the heading date descriptors as used in the FVI selector tool: Mid: - 7 days to + 7 days Late: +8 days to + 21 days Very Late: + 22 days or greater

The actual date on which a cultivar ‘heads’ varies by several weeks from year to year, and it is influenced by spring temperatures and grazing’s. Later heading cultivars have better late spring pasture quality, thanks to delayed development of the lower quality stems. The proportion of a farm with grasses of each heading date is an important decision for farmers to make and will depend on the relative seasonal dry matter production of the cultivar versus how the heading date may affect the quality of pasture in late spring.

Ploidy Ploidy refers to the number of chromosomes per cell in a plant. A diploid ryegrass has two while a tetraploid ryegrass has four. These differences create differing plant characteristics giving both advantages and disadvantages for each type.

Diploids Recommended in higher stocking rate systems where overgrazing and pugging may occur Advantages: •

Robust - less likely to be overgrazed and attacked by argentine stem weevil, and more tolerant to pugging

Disadvantages: •

Lower metabolisable energy - lower ratio of soluble carbohydrates to fibre

•

Less clover friendly - lower, denser growth habit can shade clover

Tetraploids Recommended in systems with high performance management Characteristics: four sets of chromosomes per cell (diploids have two), bigger darker green leaves, larger but fewer tillers, larger seeds


Advantages: •

Higher metabolisable energy - higher ratio of soluble carbohydrates to fibre, more palatable to stock, easier to digest

•

Clover friendly - open, erect growth habit promotes more clover

•

Utilisation - tend to be grazed to lower residuals resulting in less dead material and lower build-up of facial eczema spores

Disadvantages: •

Sensitive - higher nutritive value make them more prone to over grazing and require careful management in wet and drought conditions

•

Pest attack - argentine stem weevil in particular prefer tetraploids over diploids.

Endophyte Endophyte is a naturally occurring fungus that is found in ryegrass and tall fescue pastures. Endophyte protects plants from a range of insects but can be associated with animal health problems. There are different types of Endophyte and each varies in persistence, dry matter production, and insect protection. Endophytes provide varying levels of protection against pasture pests (see tables below) AR37, and NEA2 are recommended in perennial ryegrass for the Upper North Island because of black beetle and argentine stem weevil. Standard endophyte (SE) causes ryegrass staggers, and may reduce milk production in summer. Seed without endophyte is referred to as ‘Without endophyte’ (WE) in the Forage Value Index. More detailed information is included in the endophyte rating tables for insect control and animal safety in the next section.


Endophyte rating tables 1. ENDOPHYTE INSECT CONTROL - PERENNIAL RYEGRASS, FESTULOLIUM and ITALIAN AND SHORT-TERM (HYBRID) RYEGRASS Notes on Table 16 -

No control

+

Low level control: Endophyte may provide a measureable effect, but is unlikely to give any practical control.

++

Moderate control: Endophyte may provide some practical protection, with a low to moderate reduction in insect population.

+++

Good control: Endophyte markedly reduces insect damage under low to moderate insect pressures. Damage may still occur when insect pressure is high.

++++

Very good control: Endophyte consistently reduces insect populations and keeps pasture damage to low levels, even under high insect pressure.

( )

Provisional result: Further results needed to support the rating. Testing is ongoing.

AR37 endophyte controls Argentine stem weevil larvae, but not adults. While larvae cause most damage to pastures, adults can damage emerging grass seedlings. In Argentine stem weevil prone areas, it is recommended to use treated seed for all cultivars with novel endophyte. 1

2

AR1 plants are more susceptible to root aphid than plants without endophyte.

3

Also active against black beetle larvae

Table 16: Insect control of a range of endophytes in diploid, tetraploid, Italian and hybrid ryegrasses and festulolium Argentine stem weevil

Pasture mealy bug

Black beetle adult

Root aphid

Porina

Grass grub

Field cricket

Diploid perennial ryegrass AR1

++++

++++

+

-2

-

-

Not tested

NEA2

+++

(++++)

+++

++

Not tested

-

Not tested

AR37

++++1

++++

+++

++++

+++

+

Not tested

SE

++++

++++

+++

++

+

-

Not tested

WE

-

-

-

-

-

-

Not tested

Tetraploid perennial ryegrass AR1

(+++)

(++++)

+

-2

-

-

Not tested

NEA2

++

(++++)

+++

++

Not tested

-

Not tested

AR37

(+++)1

(++++)

+++

++++

(+++)

+

Not tested

WE

-

-

-

-

-

-

Not tested

Not tested

(++)

+++

+++

Festulolium U2

+++

Not tested

+++3

Italian and short term (hybrid) ryegrass AR1

++

(++++)

+

-2

Not tested

-

Not tested

NEA

Not tested

(++++)

+++

Not tested

Not tested

-

Not tested

AR37

+++1

(++++)

+++

Not tested

Not tested

-

Not tested

WE

-

-

-

-

-

-

Not tested


Endophyte animal safety PERENNIAL RYEGRASS and FESTULOLIUM Key to animal safety tables (17 &18) ++

Moderate animal production and health: This endophyte is known to regularly cause significant problems.

+++

Good animal production and health: This endophyte can cause problems from time to time

++++

Very good animal production and health

Notes on Table 17 1. Standard endophyte can cause severe ryegrass staggers, can significantly decrease lamb growth rates in summer and autumn, and significantly increase dags 2. Ryegrass containing AR37 endophyte can cause severe ryegrass staggers, but the frequency of ryegrass staggers is much lower than for ryegrass with Standard endophyte. One50 AR37 may give rise to higher instances of ryegrass staggers than other AR37 cultivars in some situations. 3. Lambs grazing ryegrass containing AR37 endophyte can have reduced LWG during periods of severe staggers

Notes on Table 18 1. Standard endophyte can cause ryegrass staggers, and has been shown to depress milk solids (MS) production through summer and autumn. 2. While ryegrass staggers has not been observed on cattle and dairy cows, it could occur on rare occasions. 3. In dairy trials overall MS production from ryegrass containing AR37 endophyte is not significantly different from that with AR1. A small reduction in MS was observed over summer on ryegrass containing AR37. A contributing factor to this was the lower clover content in AR37 pastures.

Table 17 Livestock performance – sheep & lambs AR1

NEA2

AR37

U2

Standard Endophyte

Without Endophyte

Freedom from ryegrass staggers

++++

++++

+++2

++++

++1

++++

Animal production

++++

++++

++++3

++++

++1

++++

Table 18 Livestock performance – dairy cows and beef cattle AR1

NEA2

AR37

U2

Standard Endophyte

Without Endophyte

Freedom from ryegrass staggers

++++

++++

++++2

++++

++1

++++

Animal production

++++

Not tested

++++3

++++

+++1

++++


References Chapman, D.F., Bryant, J.R., Olayemi, M.E., Edwards, G.R., Thorrold, B.S., McMillan, W.H., Kerr, G.A., Judson, G., Cookson, T., Moorhead, A., and Norriss, M. (2017) An economically-based evaluation index for perennial and shortterm ryegrasses in New Zealand dairy farm systems Grass and Forage Science 72 1-21 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ gfs.12213

Ludemann, C.I., Eckard, R.J., Cullen, B.R., Jacobs, J.L., Malcolm, B., and Smith, K.F. (2015) Higher energy concentration traits in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) may increase profitability and improve energy conversion on dairy farms Agricultural Systems 137 189-100 doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2015.03.011

Wims, C.M., Ludemann, C.I., Phillips, H., and Chapman, D.F. (In Press) The economic value to dairy systems of genetic gains in the nutritive value of perennial ryegrass in grass-clover pastures Animal Production Science


Glossary of terms Term

Confidence value

Definition and additional useful information All cultivars are given a confidence value. The confidence value indicates the likelihood that its star ratings will change. Those cultivars with low confidence values (e.g. 3) are more likely to change as more NFVT results are included. Cultivars with confidence of 10+ have at least 10 NFVT results included to estimate their FVI. Confidence is calculated as the sum of the number of trials within a region plus the number of trials out of a region multiplied by the correlation between regions. A 10+ confidence listing is the greatest value a cultivar can receive in the Cultivar Selector Tool and FVI Lists.

Dairy Region

The geographical boundaries by which DairyNZ has divided the New Zealand dairy industry into for the FVI. This is so that regionally specific economic values and cultivar performance values can be used to calculate regionally specific FVI values for cultivars. The boundaries of the four dairy regions (Upper North Island, Lower North Island, Upper South Island and Lower South Island) of New Zealand are shown on the map in Figure 2.

Economic value (EV)

Endophytes

The economic effect on farm operating profit ($) of a 1-unit change of a trait (e.g. the effect on farm operating profit of a 1 kg/ha increase in dry matter over the summer period for a region). Fungus which protects plants from a range of insects. There are different types of endophyte and each varies in its effect on the plant for persistence, dry matter production, and insect protection. A committee comprising NZPBRA, AgResearch and DairyNZ representatives meets to review evidence of endophyte efficiency against major pasture pests and the safety of the endophytes strains on grazing animals. Please also see following ‘Choosing cultivars’ section for more information on endophyte selection.

Filter

The cultivar selector tool allows farmers to filter FVI results for their farm situation by: Region, Forage Type, Endophytes, Ploidy, and Heading dates.

Forage Type

DairyNZ has divided ryegrass into three ‘Forage Types’ in the FVI. This includes the most persistent (perennial ryegrass) as well as ‘winter feed’ and ‘12 month’ ryegrasses. The winter feed ryegrass forage type includes annual and Italian ryegrasses. Annual ryegrass is less persistent than Italian ryegrass but both offer greater growth in cool seasons compared to perennial ryegrass. The 12 month category includes Italian and Hybrid ryegrasses. Hybrid ryegrasses (also known as short rotation ryegrasses) are generally derived from crossing perennial ryegrass and Italian ryegrass. Therefore, the persistence of hybrid ryegrass tends to be in between that of a perennial and an Italian ryegrass.

FVI Star Rating

1-5 rating system is based on the outcome of economic and performance values for each cultivar. The top cultivars are displayed as a 5-star rating and are predicted to contribute a greater operating profit. Comparatively a 1-star rating indicates a cultivar performed in the bottom category of cultivars and will contribute least to operating profit. The number of cultivars displayed in the Cultivar Selector Tool for each star rating depends on the level of filtering applied. It is likely you will have more than one 5-star rated cultivar to choose from. In some instances (where there are few cultivars in the list) there may be no cultivars in a star rating category.


Term

Definition and additional useful information

Genetic Base

The average of a group of cultivars first tested before 1996. The genetic base values change each year because DairyNZ receives updated trial data from these cultivars from the New Zealand Plant Breeding and Research Association.

Heading date

The date when 50% of the plants of a variety have emerged seed heads in a “typical year” relative to Nui. The proportions of heading dates used on a farm depends on early spring feed DM production requirements versus late spring quality requirements. Nui is classed as mid heading. The calculation of cultivar FVI is based on performance value information from the mega environments. Mega environments were defined using statistical analysis which showed where there were significant differences in the ranking of cultivars.

Mega environment

Performance value (PV)

Ploidy

The ‘Upper North Island’ and the ‘Rest of New Zealand’ (eg. Lower North Island, Upper South Island and Lower South Island) are the two mega environments for perennial ryegrass cultivars. And the North Island and South Island are the two mega environments for shorter term ryegrasses. The performance value is a measure of how well a cultivar performs in a trait compared to the genetic base. The genetic base is derived from the performance data from a group of cultivars first tested before 1996 including well known cultivars such as Nui, Yatsyn and Bronsyn. The number of chromosomes per cell in a plant. A diploid ryegrass has two while a tetraploid ryegrass has four. These differences create differing plant characteristics giving both advantages and disadvantages for each type. Diploid recommended in higher stocking rates where overgrazing and pugging may occur while Tetraploid recommended in systems with high performance management.

Trait

A trait is a genetically determined characteristic. This is what you can see, or measure in a plant. Currently, seasonal dry matter production is the only trait evaluated in the Forage Value Index calculation. However, Metabolisable energy concentration data is presented as additional information.




dairynz.co.nz
