Search results

If only we didn’t have to collect poo, but we do!!! Faecal egg counts can be done on individual samples or on a bulk sample (composite samples). Learn about when you might use one or the other. … A faecal egg count (FEC) is a measure of the number of egg-laying adult worms in an animal’s gut. It mostly doesn’t show what species of worms are there.   Faecal egg counts can be used to help assess:  Whether sick sheep or young cattle are sick because of worms. How quickly young animals are becoming …

Additional freshwater consultations – low-slope map changes, freshwater farm plans, intensive winter grazing changes, and wetlands. This page contains information about consultations, announced by the Government in July and August 2021, as part of the Essential Freshwater work programme. Public feedback is being sought on a range of proposed changes and approaches. We’ll keep this page updated. … Update 12 July 2022: these submissions were all closed by October 2021. We’ve published our …

A report from the University of Canterbury has revealed that 24 per cent of New Zealand’s native vegetation (approximately 2.8 million hectares) is estimated to be on sheep and beef farms. This is the largest amount of native vegetation present outside of public conservation land. … Download the summary report:  Native Vegetation on Sheep and Beef Farms (PDF, 2 MB) Download the full report:  Desk-top Assessment of Native Vegetation on New Zealand Sheep and Beef Farms (PDF, 3.5 MB) The report …

The aim of this study was to provide an understanding of introducing refugia into a lamb finishing operation that had a triple drench resistance issue. Refugia, introduced through lambs with susceptible parasites, was compared to the more conventional practice of quarantine drenching. … Background Resistance of parasites, or worms, to all classes of drench is a major concern in New Zealand farming systems. Intensive finishing and hogget grazing systems are at high risk of developing triple …

There are a range of approaches being followed by countries to reduce agricultural emissions.   Our farmers are committed to the environment and are making substantial investments and progress. While we acknowledge there’s an expectation that further progress needs to be made in reducing agricultural emissions, B+LNZ is concerned about many of New Zealand’s current climate change policies.   There is currently a narrative in New Zealand that agriculture was ‘let off the hook’ by excluding …

Winter is here. It’s time to think about protecting your paddocks over the coming months. … 9 practical tips around winter grazing: Plan early. When choosing paddocks for next year’s winter feed crop, think about how you can improve your management of critical source areas and waterways. Careful management is needed when winter grazing on steep slopes to reduce environmental losses. Exclude stock from waterways. Create an ungrazed buffer zone between the livestock and the waterway. Ideally, at …

Legislation to limit farm conversions to forestry is currently being consulted on by Parliament’s Environment Committee.    We’ve made it easy for farmers to make a submission within the very short timeframe allowed, with this pre-written submission.    (Note: this page replaces an earlier one that emailed a submission direct to Parliament – the Committee have specified that submissions must be made via their website. This page will help you do that.)   For more information on the Climate …

Trees are an important part of pastoral-based farming systems.  … Benefits of plantings trees on farms: Help diversify your income by providing timber, carbon, and honey​. Provide windbreaks and shade for livestock help them grow faster​. Stock feed during droughts or shortages of feed​. Help soil retention on steep slopes, stop erosion. Improve the productivity of your land, especially areas that do not grow good pasture​. Provide landscape diversity and wildlife habitat, biodiversity​. Absorb …

The Government has finished its consultations on four elements of the essential freshwater work programme – changes to the low-slope map for stock exclusion, freshwater farm plans, changes to the intensive winter grazing rules and wetlands.  See here for more information including our factsheets and submissions . Essential freshwater rules released: update August 2020 On 5 August 2020 the Government released the freshwater policy, standards and stock exclusion regulations relating to this …

The objectives of this project were to quantify the benefits of deferred grazing, and establish criteria to help farmers identify when deferred grazing is appropriate in their farm system.  … This was achieved by comparing standard rotational grazing and deferred grazing in replicated plot studies at two sites:    Mataiwhetu Station – a summer wet property    Otorohaea – a summer dry property.   The deferred treatment was not grazed between mid-October and the end of summer / early …