Livestock Production Systems II: Pasture in New Zealand

These flashcards cover the vocabulary and key concepts of New Zealand livestock pastoral systems, including forage types, growth measurements, and seasonal management strategies.

Perennial ryegrass

The grass of choice for permanent pastures in New Zealand, scientifically known as Lolium perenne, which establishes rapidly and yields well.

White clover

A compatible legume with the scientific name Trifolium repens, often grown in a standard ryegrass to clover mix of ~$80:20$.

Surplus

A period, typically occurring in Spring, where pasture growth exceeds animal requirements.

Deficit

A period where pasture growth is lower than animal requirements, specifically during the cold of Winter or the dry of Summer.

Pasture growth (growth rate)

The measurement of how fast pasture grows, expressed as $kg\,DM/ha/day$.

Pasture mass

The quantity of pasture present, measured as $kg\,DM/ha$.

Dry Matter (DM)

The component of plant material (approximately $20\%$ in fresh forages) remaining after moisture is removed, consisting of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.

Ash

The mineral fraction of the plant, which typically comprises ~$10\%$ of the Dry Matter.

Lignin

A complex polymer of phenolic compounds in plants that is generally indigestible.

Cereal grains

Feed sources that contain substantially higher dry matter (~$85\%\,DM$) compared to fresh forages.

Summer alternate forages

Specialist crops used to provide high quality feed during dry periods, including herbs (plantain, chicory), legumes (red clover, lucerne), and certain Brassicas (turnips, forage rape).

Winter alternate forages

Specialist crops used during cold periods when growth rates are lowest, including swedes, forage kale, fodder beet, and green oats.

Conserved forage

Types of supplementary feeds including pasture silage, maize silage, and hay.

Feeding Value (FV)

The potential value of a diet determined by the formula $FV = \text{intake} \times \text{NV}$, where NV is nutritive value.