Pasture Management Overview

Store ryegrass seed cool and dry; sow within a month to maintain endophyte levels.

Seed certification ensures cultivar identity and is managed by AsureQuality for the New Zealand Seeds Authority.

Tetraploid ryegrass, clover, and brassicas have larger seeds and need higher sowing rates and specific management.

Proper feed boosts lamb growth, especially when pasture is good from autumn to mid-spring.

Lambs need high quality feed to grow quickly. The faster lambs grow, the greater their feed conversion efficiency.

Setting up for early spring is particularly important as kg lamb weaned is a key driver of profit.

Nitrate poisoning affects livestock after rapid pasture growth; cattle are most at risk, sheep the least.

Poor pasture palatability has many causes, but your ryegrass isn’t one—herbage tests can reveal the real issue.

Renewing under-performing or weedy paddocks with high quality cultivars can give significant financial gains.

Assess pasture condition and goals to determine the right renewal rate for your farm.

Using cheap or low-quality seed saves $265/ha but loses $3395/ha in profit over three years.

Using cheap or low-quality seed may save $265/ha now but can cost up to $3000/ha in future livestock losses.