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Tetraploid Perennial Ryegrass
High performing tetraploid perennial ryegrass available with NEA or the innovative new CM142 endophyte.
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Get startedThe pinnacle of pasture performance. Avatar tetraploid perennial ryegrass, now containing innovative CM142 endophyte, ensures robust year-round growth, enhanced animal safety and insect tolerance. With impressive dry matter production, Avatar stands out for its high metabolisable energy and digestibility. Avatar’s late heading, maintains pasture quality well into spring, Avatar promotes higher livestock performance potential. Available in New Zealand only.
Where it fits
Dairy, sheep and beef farming systems where high yield, strong winter growth and high forage quality is required.
Agronomic Information
- Ploidy: Tetraploid
- Persistence: 5+ years*
- Heading date: Very late
- Winter activity: High
- Rust resistance: 7**
- Endophyte: CM142, Low
*Subject to climate, insect pest pressure and management
**1 = Susceptible, 9 = Resistant
Available Endophytes
Fungal endophytes exist naturally in symbiosis with ryegrasses, helping to protect plants from insect attack and improving pasture persistence. In New Zealand many ryegrass cultivars contain endophyte, passed down within the seed. These include the naturally occurring Standard Endophyte (SE) and novel endophytes AR1, NEA2 and CM142, each providing a different level of plant protection.
While endophytes help to protect against insects, some endophytes can impact livestock performance, including causing grass staggers and heat stress. Therefore, it is important to consider animal health when selecting an endophyte that is best suited to your farms environment and the livestock class being grazed.
CM142
A new generation of livestock safety with very low risk of ryegrass staggers.
Animal safety
Recommend for:
- Beef
- Dairy
- Sheep
Ryegrass staggers
Can occasionally cause moderate staggers during autumn.
Insect pest control
- Argentine Stem Weevil: Very good
- Black Beetle adult: Very good
- Root Aphid: Very good
- Porina Caterpillar: Very good
NEA
Produces animal safe Peramine, very low Lolitrem B, low-medium Ergovaline for broad spectrum insect control while maintaining livestock performance.
Animal safety
Recommend for:
- Beef
- Dairy
- Sheep
Ryegrass staggers
Low risk of causing ryegrass staggers.
Insect pest control
- Argentine stem weevil: Very good
- Pasture mealy bug: Very good
- Black beetle adult: Good
- Root aphid: Moderate
Low Endophyte
Low endophyte may not be suitable for all regions in New Zealand.
Animal safety
Recommend for:
- Dairy
- Beef
- Sheep
- Deer
- Goats
- Alpacas
Ryegrass staggers
Does not cause ryegrass staggers or heat stress.
Insect pest control
Provides no insect pest control.
Downloads
Avatar technical documents
Sowing Information
- Sowing rate: 25-30kg/Ha in pasture mixes with 3-4kgs of clover, plus 2-4kgs of herbs (chicory and/or plantain) if desired
- Under-sowing: 15-20kg/Ha
- Sowing depth: 1-2cm
- Sowing season: Autumn and Spring
Our sowing guides are a great way to compare a broad range of forage grasses.
Sowing guides