Manta

BIG, BOLD, AND HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE.

Manta Italian ryegrass logo
  • Heading Date Late (+15 days)
  • Ploidy Diploid
  • Endophyte AR37, Low Endophyte
  • Rust Tolerance Very High
  • Perenniality Italian
  • Grazing Seasons Autumn, Spring, Summer

Manta is a late heading diploid Italian ryegrass with an upright habit, medium tiller size, and broad leaves. Often it can be mistaken for a tetraploid Italian, especially through winter and spring. 

  • Very strong winter growth
  • High total yield
  • Broad visual plant type in all farm systems
  • Ideal for short-term pasture rotations

Manta LE is fast to establish, has robust winter production, and an extended period of productivity. In the northern regions in New Zealand, Manta LE is anticipated to endure through a second winter, while in milder climates, it demonstrates significant persistence for an Italian ryegrass. Manta LE is suitable for grazing with all stock types.

Manta with AR37 endophyte is a fast establishing highly productive variety which is a recent addition to the AR37 endophyte line up. Manta AR37 stands out as an excellent choice for undersowing into damaged pastures, leveraging its quick establishment and robust growth offering a dependable solution for such scenarios. It should be noted that Manta AR37 may cause ryegrass staggers. Manta AR37 is only recommended for beef and dairy.


Discover how Manta can elevate your forage game on The Al & Juddy Show podcast, or check out more Seed Dating episodes here.

 

Manta Italian ryegrass & Relish red clover mix

Manta Italian Ryegrass & Relish Red Clover Mix

Performance Data

Manta is a new generation of Italian ryegrass that has undergone significant selection in the upper North Island and includes genetics from short term ryegrass ecotypes (some possibly hybrids) from Northland. Alongside this northern New Zealand ecotype material, Manta has parents from a core pool of successful New Zealand Italian cultivars as well as genetics from Spain making it a diverse and exciting addition to Agricom’s ryegrass portfolio. Manta was originally bred with AR37 endophyte however it has first been commercialised in Australia as a fast starting Italian without endophyte.  
 

Seasonally Manta demonstrates very strong establishment and winter growth, peaking in performance through late September until the end of its first summer. Manta has a particularly strong second winter growth habit which is productive and highly visual. With its strong establishment, Manta is ideal for undersowing into thinning or run-out pastures.

Suggested Mixes

Dairy pasture undersowing example mix

Manta AR37* is ideal for undersowing into thinning or runout pastures. It has improved insect proctection leading to increased second year persistence.

  Rate (kg/ha)
Manta AR37 Italian ryegrass 18
Ecotain® environmental plantain  7
TOTAL 25

 

Short term pasture example mix

Manta LE is an ideal option for a short term pasture.

  Rate (kg/ha)
Manta LE Italian ryegrass 20-25
Attribute white clover  3
Relish or Sensation red clover  4
TOTAL 27-32

*Manta AR37 is only recommended for beef and diary

Sheep & beef pasture example mix

Manta pasture is ideal for strip grazing in winter, grazing in early spring, and silage in early summer with the potential to last 2+ years.

  Rate (kg/ha)
Manta AR37* or LE Italian ryegrass  20-25
Attribute white clover 3
Relish or Sensation red clover 4
TOTAL 27-32

 

 

Rotation Products