'Grasslands Lancelot' plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.)

'Grasslands Lancelot' narrow-leaved plantain was bred by four generations of selection from 109 seed populations, collected mainly from the Manawatu region, New Zealand. Compared with this highly varied base germplasm, Lancelot is a rosette-forming cultivar but is more erect, densely-tillered, productive, and uniform. Lancelot has been evaluated in pure and mixed swards under sheep grazing. The growth rate of animals is not high from feeding on pure swards if the foliage is rank or at the heading stage, both of which reduce intake. Carcass characteristics of sheep fed plantain are typical for their growth rates and the meat flavours/odours are typical of those fed grasses, less intense than those fed legumes. Animal performances from plantain/legume mixtures have matched those of other species in legume mixtures. There are indications that Lancelot has several mild 'medicinal' effects: anthelmintic activity in test tube assays (though not in grazing trials); antibiotic effect on rumen flora; high levels of some minerals; and a diuretic effect. Present results suggest the cultivar would best be used as a component of mixed swards, particularly in dry regions, to add diversity to the animal diet.