This course covers principles of pasture production and management, how to evaluate the quality and potential livestock production of pasture types, and management techniques including species selection, fertilisation, grazing management, pasture conservation, and forage crops. Students will develop skills to estimate herbage mass, identify pasture species and weeds, manage pastures in diverse farming environments, and understand pasture roles in New Zealand livestock systems. The course requires some on-campus activities and is offered in Semester 2 2025, awarding 15 credits.

Course Content

• Pasture production and management principles

• Evaluation of livestock production potential from pasture quality

• Annual patterns of pasture production and feeding value

• Pasture species and cultivars, nitrogen fertiliser effects

• Grazing management techniques

• Pasture conservation methods

• Supplementary forage crops (e.g., lucerne, brassicas) establishment and management

• Estimating herbage mass and feeding value

• Identification of common pasture species and weeds

• Optimising productivity and utilisation of pastures in farming environments

• Role of pastures and forages in New Zealand livestock production systems