A NEW herbicide could save farmers around £328 per hectare in lost beef production or £312 in lamb through the extra grass gained by effectively controlling thistles.

Dow AgroSciences claims that Thistlex can offer outstanding levels of long-term thistle control and says these figures are attainable even where the thistle infestation is only ten per cent - which is ten thistles per 20 square metres.

Speaking at the launch, Dow AgroSciences' grassland agronomist Vaughn Stansfield said: "Thistlex's ability to work through the plant's extensive root system keeps regrowth to a minimum."