Magnesium biofortification of Italian ryegrass ( L.) via agronomy and breeding as a potential way to reduce grass tetany in grazing ruminants.

AIM

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency (known as grass tetany) is a serious metabolic disorder that affects grazing ruminants. We tested whether Mg-fertiliser can increase Mg concentration of Italian ryegrasses ( L.) including a cultivar (cv. Bb2067; 'Magnet'), bred to accumulate larger concentrations of Mg.

METHODS

Under controlled environment (CE) conditions, three cultivars (cv. Bb2067, cv. Bb2068, cv. RvP) were grown in low-nutrient compost at six fertiliser rates (0-1500 μM MgCl.6HO). Under field conditions, the three cultivars in the CE condition and cv. Alamo were grown at two sites, and four rates of MgSO fertiliser application rates (0-200 kg ha MgO). Multiple grass cuts were taken over two-years.

RESULTS

Grass Mg concentration increased with increasing Mg-fertiliser application rates in all cultivars and conditions. Under field conditions, cv. Bb2067 had 11-73% greater grass Mg concentration and smaller forage tetany index (FTI) than other cultivars across the Mg-fertiliser application rates, sites and cuts. Grass dry matter (DM) yield of cv. Bb2067 was significantly ( < 0.05) smaller than cv. Alamo. The effect of Mg-fertiliser rate on DM yield was not significant ( ≥ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Biofortification of grass with Mg through breeding and agronomy can improve the forage Mg concentration for grazing ruminants, even in high-growth spring grass conditions when hypomagnesaemia is most prevalent. Response to agronomic biofortification varied with cultivar, Mg-fertiliser rate, site and weather. The cost:benefit of these approaches and farmer acceptability, and the impact on cattle and sheep grazing on grasses biofortified with Mg requires further investigation.