Research aims to unlock Kikuyu grass benefits
13 May 2026
A Dairy UP research project is investigating how Kikuyu grass becomes toxic, to help develop safe grazing management practices for dairy farmers.
Kikuyu is adapted to warm or hot conditions and commonly grown in NSW for livestock production. It is fast growing and produces more high-quality dry matter than other C4 (tropical) grass species. However, there have been rare cases of Kikuyu poisoning resulting in cattle deaths and illness, often following heavy rainfall after prolonged dry conditions.
The research aims to give farmers more confidence in using the productive perennial pasture species. The project is a collaboration between DairyUP, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), and the University of Sydney.
Project technical lead, Dr Krista Plett, from NSW DPIRD, said providing clarity around Kikuyu toxicity could help avoid livestock poisoning.
“Ultimately, the project findings could be used to develop new Kikuyu varieties that are less susceptible to toxicity events, diagnostic tests to evaluate pasture safety, in-field preventative management and treatments for affected cattle,” Dr Plett said.
The research identified seven compounds found at consistently high levels in toxic leaf and stem samples, yet at low levels or absent in the baseline samples.
Five fungi were more abundant in the toxic samples, with two fungal species now under investigation as potential causes of Kikuyu toxicity.
The research team collected and analysed grass and soil samples from properties across NSW and visited farms affected by suspected Kikuyu poisoning from 2018 to 2019, and in March and April 2024.
Samples were collected from reference and affected farms and analysed for fungal and bacterial communities.
Metabolomics, a technology that can identify the fingerprint of compounds within a sample, was used to identify potentially toxic compounds by comparing baseline samples with those from affected farms.
University of Sydney PhD student, Vivien Tan, ran a greenhouse trial to create the environmental conditions that are understood to precede Kikuyu toxicity, including drought and wet conditions.
Ms Tan examined the response of three types of Kikuyu that were inoculated with soil and their associated microorganisms collected from farms with a history of toxicity.
The fungal community composition, or microbiome, was significantly impacted after re-watering, suggesting the microbiome is more responsive to extreme wet conditions than dry conditions.
There was little to no detectable influence of variety (i.e. genetics) or drought treatments on the overall fungal community composition.
Dr Plett said that while Kikuyu toxicity was rare, the perceived risk of poisoning from the grass could deter dairy farmers and beef cattle producers from unlocking all its benefits.
“Understanding the underlying reason for Kikuyu poisoning could inform ways to address the risks and enable farmers to manage their herds and pastures with increased confidence,” she said.
“Giving farmers more assurance and confidence in using Kikuyu pasture would potentially deliver more year-round feed options for their livestock.”
Future research efforts will integrate data from new kikuyu toxicity events to refine the project findings and commence trials with identified fungi to determine their potential role in toxicity.
More information: www.dairyup.com.au
Media contact:
Lee-Ann Monks, Monks Communication 0419 349 244, lmonks@monkscom.com.au;
Rick Bayne 0418 140489, mediamastersvic@bigpond.com or
media@dpird.nsw.gov.au, 02 6391 3686
