Yellow bristle grass

Yellow bristle grass is an annual grass with seed heads that are present from January to May. It can cause mouth ulcers and lesions within cattle and reduces milk production.

Description

• Leaves are green/yellow and often red/purple near the base.
• Flowers are borne in spikelets within cylindrical panicles.
• Seeds are dispersed by livestock, invasive mammals and potentially birds, wind and water.
• Human-mediated dispersal through the movement of contaminated machinery, vehicles, hay, and silage.
• Habitats include pastures, grasslands, wastelands, roadsides, gardens, cultivated ground, and wetlands.

What you need to know

Major pasture pest that reduces feed production. Has poor nutritional value and may cause mouth ulcers and lesions in cattle. Reduces milk production and increases costs associated with supplementary feed and pasture renovation.

Management approach

This is a declared pest managed under the Canterbury Regional Management Plan 2018 – 2038 (PDF file, 10.6MB) within the eradication programme.

Eradication

Pests in the eradication programme are present in low numbers or have limited distribution within Waitaha/Canterbury and eradication is feasible.

The community should make us aware of any yellow bristle grass plants in Waitaha/Canterbury. We will work with affected landowners to undertake control of yellow bristle grass.

Rules

Any species declared a pest cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, multiplied, communicated, released, caused to be released, or otherwise spread.

Control

Do not attempt to undertake control of yellow bristle grass yourself. Report any sightings to us.