PASTURE QUALITY
VISUAL ASSESSMENT
0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352) | WWW.BEEFLAMBNZ.COM
INVESTMENT BY NEW ZEALAND SHEEP + BEEF FARMERS
CONTENTS
Visual pasture quality assessment
2
When should visual pasture quality assessments be done?
2
What are the assessments?
2
How accurate do the assessments need to be?
2
Visual assessment of a paddock
2
How is each component assessed?
2
Interpreting the assessments with Q-Graze
3
3DVWXUHDVVHVVPHQWGHÀQLWLRQVDQGELDVHV
3
Pasture dry matter yield
3
Dead matter
4
Clover and herbs
5
Green grass leaf
5
6DPSOLQJDQGPHDVXUHPHQWSURWRFROV
6
Measuring pasture dry matter yield
6
Sampling for component and quality analysis
7
Calculations
8
Field recording sheets
9
FURTHER READING
400 plus - a guide to improved lamb growth. (Beef + Lamb New Zealand)
A guide to feed planning for sheep farmers. (Beef + Lamb New Zealand )
Disclaimer: The information in this publication has been prepared with all reasonable skill and
care. Nevertheless, neither AgResearch or Beef + Lamb New Zealand accept any liability,
whether direct, indirect or consequential, arising out of the use and interpretation of the
information in this publication.
Notice of Copyright: AgResearch holds the copyright for the information contained in this
publication. Material may not be reproduced without the prior consent of Beef + Lamb
New Zealand and AgResearch.
This material was developed by AgResearch under contract for Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
First published by AgResearch January 2002. Redesigned and reprinted by Beef + Lamb
New Zealand June 2012.
1
VISUAL PASTURE QUALITY
ASSESSMENT
Visual pasture quality assessment is achieved by
observing key pasture features. These features have
been used to develop the visual pasture quality
assessment protocol and the accompanying software
Q-Graze7KHÀHOGDVVHVVPHQWUHVXOWVDUHXVHGE\
Q-Graze to predict the quality of the pasture, the
intake of young growing sheep and cattle, and their
liveweight gain.
WHEN SHOULD VISUAL PASTURE QUALITY
ASSESSMENTS BE DONE?
VISUAL ASSESSMENT OF A PADDOCK
To make a visual assessment of a paddock, walk
DFURVVLWWRÀQGDQDUHDRIDERXWP2 that represents
the average pasture dry matter yield and quality of
the paddock.
In hill country, more than one area may be required to
represent different slope and aspect combinations. The
ÀQDOUHVXOWPD\QHHGWREHDGMXVWHGIRUWKHEDODQFHRI
slope and aspect.
Avoid gateways, troughs and camps.
Pasture may be assessed at any time, but visual pasture
quality assessment may be most effective during
summer when feed quality is particularly important.
Look around and assess the dry matter yield,
dead matter, clover percentage and green grass
percentage of the sward. Shadows on the pasture
can alter your perceptions.
WHAT ARE THE ASSESSMENTS?
The visual assessments are:
Field assessments are recorded and transferred to the
computer programme Q-Graze or compared with the
feed quality tables in the back of this manual.
1. Pasture dry matter yield, in kg DM/ha to
ground level.
HOW IS EACH COMPONENT ASSESSED?
2. Dead matter, as a % of theWRWDOGU\ZHLJKW.
WRWDOGU\ZHLJKW= dead + clover and herbs + green
grass leaf + seedhead and weeds
Please see the “Calibration Photographs” also
provided as part of the Beef + Lamb New Zealand
Pasture Quality Workshop.
3. Clover and herbs, as a % of the JUHHQGU\ZHLJKW.
JUHHQGU\ZHLJKW = clover and herbs + green grass
leaf + seedhead and weeds
The pasture components are estimated in
the following order:
4. Green Grass leaf, as a % RIWKHUHVW.
WKHUHVW= green grass leaf + seedhead and weeds
PASTURE DRY MATTER YIELD
7KHÀQDOIUDFWLRQVHHGKHDGDQGZHHGVLVFDOFXODWHG
as the remainder.
‡$VVHVVSDVWXUHGU\PDWWHU\LHOGWRJURXQGOHYHO
(including any residual that may be left after
grazing) in kg DM/ha.
HOW ACCURATE DO THE ASSESSMENTS
NEED TO BE?
The visual assessments of dead matter, clover and
herbs, and grass leaf need to be to the nearest 5%.
The pasture dry matter yield assessment to ground
level needs to be accurate to approximately 200 kg/
ha because the model converts the visual quality
assessments into liveweight gain based on feed eaten.
If the feed is not there to be eaten then the outcome
will not be accurate.
‡8VHDWHFKQLTXHWKDW\RXDUHIDPLOLDUZLWK
‡&KHFNWKHFDOLEUDWLRQVDQGELDVHVLQWKHWHFKQLTXH
that you are using.
DEAD MATTER
‡2SHQWKHSDVWXUHXSDQGORRNLQWRWKHEDVH
‡$VVHVVGHDGPDWWHUDVDSURSRUWLRQRIWKHWRWDO
dry matter.
‡,QFOXGHGHDGOHDIGHDGVWHPDQGGHDGSDUWV
of leaves.
‡'HDGPDWWHULVQRUPDOO\XQGHUHVWLPDWHGHVSHFLDOO\
in summer.
‡(VWDEOLVKDUDQJHIRUHDFKVHDVRQ
2
PASTURE ASSESSMENT:
DEFINITIONS AND BIASES
CLOVER AND HERBS
‡&ORVHWKHSDVWXUHXSDQGORRNDWWKHVXUIDFH
‡$VVHVVWKHFORYHUDQGKHUEVDVDSURSRUWLRQRI
the green material you can see.
‡5HPHPEHUWKDWFORYHULVXVXDOO\RYHUHVWLPDWHG
EHFDXVHRILWVÁDWOHDI
PASTURE DRY MATTER YIELD
DEFINITION:
Pasture dry matter yield is the dry weight of pasture in
kilograms per hectare above ground level.
‡/RQJSDVWXUHVDSSHDUWRKDYHOHVVFORYHU
BACKGROUND:
‡+HUEVLQFOXGHWKHHGLEOHSODQWVVXFKDVFKLFRU\
and plantain.
Many New Zealand farmers now routinely use visual
assessment of pasture dry matter yield. Pastures
can usually be successfully ranked from low to high
dry matter yield. Q-Graze (the computer model for
integrating dry matter yield and quality of pasture
to predict intake) requires a total dry matter yield
estimate so this measurement must be as accurate
as possible.
GREEN GRASS LEAF
‡/RRNDWWKHSDVWXUHIURPWKHWRS
‡$VVHVVWKHJUHHQJUDVVOHDIDVDSURSRUWLRQRI
the grass and weed content of the pasture.
‡5HPHPEHUWRDVVHVVWKHVHHGKHDGDQG
weeds together.
‡:HHGVLQFOXGHLQHGLEOHSODQWVVXFKDVWKLVWOHV
‡2QFHWKHVHHGKHDGKDVGLHGRIILWLVSDUWRI
the dead matter.
INTERPRETING THE ASSESSMENTS
WITH Q-GRAZE
Q-Graze is a computer programme that has been
designed to incorporate the principles of pasture
quality to predict liveweight gains for young sheep and
cattle. The Q-Graze programme uses the visual pasture
quality assessments to estimate the intake and feeding
value of the pasture and then predicts liveweight gains
for young growing sheep and cattle.
To use Q-Graze, the visual pasture quality assessments
are entered along with the pasture dry matter yield,
on the input page.The full instructions for Q-Graze are
printed in “The Pasture Quality Workshops, Principles
and Management, and the Q-Graze Manual”.
Q-Graze users can input paddock sizes and stock
details (number, weight, sex, breed) to examine the
effects of management decisions such as grazing time
on animal growth.
The absolute value assigned to a particular pasture
dry matter yield can differ widely between observers,
especially in summer and autumn. Historically this
has arisen because of a lack of standardisation
between training organisations (universities, research
organisations, consultants, pasture measurement
manufacturers) in the height at which pasture is cut
relative to ground level.
Calibration must be accurate.
Calibration equations on measurement devices and
visual assessments must match the season. Local
consultants or the manufacturer may be able to help if
further information is required.
Ideally these tools should be calibrated to your farm
each season. Details on how to do calibration cuts are
SURYLGHGODWHULQWKLVPDQXDO2QFHSDVWXUHTXDOLW\
is integrated with dry matter yield assessments it is
important to measure “actual” total dry matter yield.
Measurement devices will struggle with pastures with
very high dead matters regardless of the calibration
chosen. For example, the modern capacitance probes
don’t measure “dry” dead material and will give higher
readings when pasture is wet than when dry. In these
conditions (often dry summer/autumn periods), it may
be preferable to rely solely on visual assessments or
height measurements (pasture rulers). Pasture rulers
give separate calibrations for different seasons for dry
matter yield.
When visually assessing pasture there are a few
common biases:
‡+LJKGHDGPDWWHUSDVWXUHVDUHXQGHUHVWLPDWHG
‡+LJKGU\PDWWHU\LHOGSDVWXUHVDUHXQGHUHVWLPDWHG
‡/RZIHUWLOLW\VZDUGVZLWKD´PDWµDUH
under-estimated.
‡8SULJKWORZGHQVLW\VZDUGVDUHRYHUHVWLPDWHG
3
‡6ZDUGVZLWKKLJKOHJXPHFRQWHQWDUHRYHUHVWLPDWHG
‡:KHQWKHSDVWXUHLVKLJKO\YDULDEOH\RXUH\HZLOOEHGUDZQWRWKHORQJHUSDVWXUH
‡3DVWXUHVORRNORQJHUZKHQWKHVXQLVORZEHFDXVHRIWKHVKDGRZV
‡3DVWXUHVDSSHDURIKLJKHUGU\PDWWHU\LHOGZKHQORRNLQJGRZQKLOOEHFDXVH\RXVHHWKHFDPSDQGWUDFNDUHDV
ACCURACY:
Pasture dry matter yield measurement should be to within 200 kgDM/ha.
DEAD MATTER
DEFINITION:
Dead matter is the percentage of the total dry weight that is dead material, including dead leaf material, dead
seedhead as well as dead parts of leaves.
BACKGROUND:
Dead matter is the main determinant of pasture quality and is the most important component to get right.
The dead matter in the pasture is often underestimated. It is normally at the base of the pasture and is out of sight.
Initially the observer must open up the pastures to get an appreciation of how much dead matter it contains.
Alternatively, the pasture can be cut to ground level and blended. This makes the dead matter more obvious and
easy to see.
Accuracy is improved by establishing a range over which the dead matter is assessed. Recorded dead matter
UDQJHVFROOHFWHGLQIRXUUHJLRQVIURPSDVWXUHVXVHGWRJUD]HÀQLVKLQJVWRFNDUHVKRZQLQ7DEOH
Most pastures, even well managed pastures, contain high levels of dead matter during dry, warm conditions due
to accelerated death rates and accumulated dead matter at the base of the sward. During these conditions, the
dead matter will also have a much higher dry matter percentage.
AREA
SEASON
)HE0DU
$SULO0D\
-XQH-XO\
$XJ6HS
2FW1RY
'HF-DQ
31 (21-49)
42 (17-76)
23 (7-43)
12 (6-20)
15 (9-23)
20 (15-30)
6WK1RUWK,VODQG
35 (9-43)
19 (6-38)
11 (2-16)
8 (0-19)
6 (1-13)
19 (6-55)
&DQWHUEXU\
24 (0-35)
17 (4-44)
36 (11-60)
13 (3-34)
8 (1-23)
14 (3-25)
6RXWKODQG
15 (2-38)
10 (4-20)
16 (2-37)
9 (2-16)
4 (2-8)
8 (2-10)
:DLNDWR
7DEOHAverage dead matter (minimum and maximum) from pastures collected from 4-5 farms per region each
month in 1999/2000.
Dead matter that has occurred as a result of aging, “old dead”, in moist conditions has a lower quality than
“snap dried” leaves that have died prematurely due to water stress. This results in different animal performance
depending on the conditions. The programme Q-Graze allows a choice of “old dead” or “snap dried”.
The use of snap dried for the type of dead will depend on the weather conditions and the prevalence of dead
matter before the onset of drought. “Snap dried” is usually reserved for dead matter that was previously fresh green
leaf, which has dried off quickly due to drought. The high quality dead matter is normally restricted to eastern parts
of New Zealand following sudden dry hot spells. The quality of this type of dead declines rapidly once it rains.
ACCURACY:
Aim to be within 5% of the actual dead matter content.
4
CLOVER AND HERBS
DEFINITION:
The amount of green clover and herbs as a percentage of green dry weight.
BACKGROUND:
To simplify the assessment process, herbs such as chicory, plantain and dandelions are included as “clover and
herbs”. The “clover and herbs” is an important determinant of diet quality, but in most sheep and beef pastures
LWGRHVQRWPDNHDPDMRUFRQWULEXWLRQWRWKHFXWWRJURXQG0-0(EHFDXVHLWQRUPDOO\RFFXUVDWORZOHYHOV7KH
average clover content of sheep and beef pasture as a percentage of total dry matter yield is 10%.
7KHFORYHUFRQWHQWRISDVWXUHVLVLQLWLDOO\RYHUHVWLPDWHGE\YLVXDODVVHVVPHQWEHFDXVHLWVOHDYHVDUHÁDW$VLQJOH
clover leaf and stem makes a similar contribution to dry matter yield as a single grass leaf. The easiest way to
demonstrate this bias is to assess the pasture, cut and mix the pasture and then visually assess again. The mixing
WDNHVDZD\WKHÁDWRULHQWDWLRQDQGWKHFORYHUVHHPVWRGLVDSSHDU
Clover is assessed as a percentage of the green pasture. Ask yourself: “What proportion of the green is clover?”
As pastures increase in height, visual assessors must decrease their assessment of clover because grass weighs
proportionately more at higher dry matter yields than clover. Alternatively, very short pastures (<1000 kg DM/ha)
contain proportionately more clover and the assessment must increase.
ACCURACY:
Aim to be within 5% of clover and herbs content.
GREEN GRASS LEAF
DEFINITION:
The amount of grass leaf as a percentage of grass leaf, grass seedhead and weeds.
BACKGROUND:
Green grass leaf excludes seedhead. Seedhead includes stem with, or which has had (when removed by grazing),
DVHHGKHDG,WLVH[WUHPHO\GLIÀFXOWWRYLVXDOO\DVVHVVLPPDWXUHVWHPVWHPLQZKLFKWKHÁRZHULQJKHDGKDVQRW\HW
emerged) so this is included as leaf. Weeds include thistles, docks and other inedible or unpalatable components of
the pasture.
The green grass leaf is assessed as a proportion of green grass, for example, 95% leaf with 5% seedhead and weeds.
Seedhead is normally present in the sward only from November to February. After this time the seedhead dies and is
included in the dead component. Indicative levels of green grass leaf are shown in Table 2.
AREA
SEASON
2FW
1RY
'HF
Jan
)HE
97 (92-100)
91 (84-100)
71 (40-96)
85 (76-100)
76 (51-100)
95 (91-100) S
1RUWK,VODQG
100
98 (95-100)
87 (62-95)
93 (71-100)
94 (87-100)
100
&DQWHUEXU\
99 (98-100)
96 (93-98)
73 (55-83)
62 (37-82)
97 (95-100)
70 (31-100)
100
97 (94-100)
73 (63-90)
88 (82-100)
91 (76-100)
88 (32-100)
:DLNDWR
6RXWKODQG
Mar
7DEOHAverage green grass leaf (minimum and maximum) from pastures collected from 4-5 farms per region each
month over 1999/2000.
It is important to realise that variation in seedhead during late spring is large and depends on both management
DQGZHDWKHUFRQGLWLRQV7KHYDULDWLRQFDQEHVHHQLQWKHÀJXUHVLQEUDFNHWVRQWKHWDEOHLQGLFDWLQJWKDWHDFK
paddock must be assessed individually.
ACCURACY:
Aim to be within 5% of green grass leaf content.
5
SAMPLING AND
MEASUREMENT PROTOCOLS
Calibrating visual pasture quality assessments helps to
ensure that results and predictions are accurate.
This section provides a basic set of guidelines for
those who wish to do their own calibration. Please
read all of this section before beginning, as all
aspects are related.
MEASURING PASTURE
DRY MATTER YIELD
USING A PLATE OR PROBE
‡ 7RHVWLPDWHSDVWXUHGU\PDWWHU\LHOGWRNJ'0
ha, a minimum of 40 measurements provides good
accuracy when the paddock is relatively even.
‡ 2YHUPHDVXUHPHQWVPD\EHQHHGHGLIWKH
paddock is patchy.
‡ :DONDFURVVDUHSUHVHQWDWLYHWUDQVHFWWDNLQJD
measurement at predetermined intervals, for
example, every second step.
‡ &KRRVHWKHDSSURSULDWHFDOLEUDWLRQIRUWKHVHDVRQ
and conditions.
VISUAL ESTIMATES
‡ (QVXUHWKDWWKHHQWLUHSDGGRFNLVWDNHQLQWR
DFFRXQWLQFOXGLQJDQDGMXVWPHQWIRUVORSH
and aspect.
‡ &DOLEUDWH\RXUVHOIDJDLQVWRWKHUPHWKRGVRU
assessors each season for greatest accuracy.
HEIGHT MEASUREMENTS
‡ +HLJKWPD\EHXVHGDVORQJDVWKHDSSURSULDWH
calibration is used.
CALIBRATING
&KRRVLQJFDOLEUDWLRQVLWHV
‡ 7KHVLWHVQHHGWRUHSUHVHQWWKHUDQJHRISDVWXUH
dry matter yields and pasture type that will be
measured.
‡ $WOHDVWÀYHVLWHVZLOOEHQHHGHGUDQJLQJIURPORZ
to high pasture dry matter yield.
‡ ,IWKHSDVWXUHW\SHVYDU\JUHDWO\VXFKDVROG
Browntop versus Italian ryegrass, separate
calibrations will be needed for each pasture.
2. Cutting grass
‡ 7KHJUD]LQJPRGHOXVHVDFXWWRJURXQGEDVLVWR
assess both pasture components and pasture dry
matter yield.
‡ :KHQSDVWXUHLVFXWWRJURXQGOHYHOQRJUHHQ
material remains and the plant material is cut at
the soil surface.
‡ 7KLVQRUPDOO\UHTXLUHVFXWWLQJZLWKDQHOHFWULF
hand piece.
‡ 7RPHDVXUHSDVWXUHGU\PDWWHU\LHOGDTXDGUDW
(commonly 0.12-0.2 m2) is placed over the sward.
‡ ,ISRVVLEOHDYRLGKDUYHVWLQJODUJHDPRXQWVRIGLUW
‡ 7KHVDPSOHPD\QHHGWREHZDVKHGWRUHPRYH
dirt before weighing. This can be important as small
amounts of dirt can contribute a large dry weight.
'U\LQJDQGZHLJKLQJ
‡ $OOHVWLPDWHVDUHRQDGU\PDWWHUEDVLVVRVDPSOHV
must be dried before working out yields and relative
contributions.
‡ +HLJKWGU\PDWWHU\LHOGUXOHUVDUHDYDLODEOHZLWK
general calibrations for each season.
‡ 5HPHPEHUWRZHLJKWKHGU\PDWWHUVDPSOHEHIRUH
drying to determine dry matter percentage (see
Calculations).
‡ 2SHQSDVWXUHVDUHRIORZHUGU\PDWWHU\LHOGSHU
unit height, while dense pastures are of higher dry
matter yield.
‡ 6DPSOHVIRUGU\PDWWHUSHUFHQWDJHDQGSDVWXUH
composition should be dried at 80ºC for a minimum
of 12 hours.
‡ 3DVWXUHVZLWKODUJHWLOOHUVOLNH,WDOLDQU\HJUDVV
or cocksfoot, have a low dry matter yield per
unit height.
‡ 6DPSOHVGULHGEHIRUH1,5DQDO\VLVVKRXOGRQO\EH
dried at 60ºC for 24 hours.
‡ 7KHSRLQWVLQWKHVHFWLRQ´8VLQJDSODWHRUSUREHµ
also apply to using a ruler.
‡ 2QUHPRYDOIURPWKHRYHQGULHGVDPSOHVZLOODEVRUE
moisture so immediate weighing is required.
‡ 'U\PDWWHUVDPSOHVDUHZHLJKHGWRJDQG
dissections to 0.01 g.
‡ $FFXUDWHGLJLWDOVFDOHVDUHQHHGHG6RPHGLJLWDO
kitchen scales are suitable.
6
0LFURZDYHGU\LQJ
‡ 0LFURZDYHGU\LQJLVDJRRGWHFKQLTXHWRXVHLQ
most farm situations.
‡ $IUHVKVDPSOHRIJLVZHLJKHGDQGVSUHDG
evenly across the microwave plate.
‡ $JODVVRIZDWHULVSODFHGLQWKHEDFNRIWKH
microwave and must have water in it at all times
WRSUHYHQWDÀUHZKHQWKHVDPSOHLVFORVHWRGU\
‡ 0LFURZDYHRQKLJKIRUÀYHPLQXWHVIRUD
700 W oven).
‡ 6DPSOHVIRUODERUDWRU\IHHGDQDO\VLV1,5VKRXOGEH
greater than 100 g (half a bread bag).
‡)RUGU\PDWWHUSHUFHQWDJHGHWHUPLQDWLRQDERXW
100 g is an ideal size.
‡$ERXWJLVQHHGHGIRUGLVVHFWLRQVDOWKRXJKWKLV
PD\EHOHVVIRUÀQHOHDYHGSDVWXUHVVXFKDVWKRVH
that have been set stocked.
3DVWXUHFRPSRVLWLRQE\GLVVHFWLRQ
‡7KRURXJKO\PL[WKHVDPSOHRQDÁDWVXUIDFH
‡ &KHFNWKHGU\ZHLJKWDQGGU\IRUDQRWKHU
one minute.
‡7KHQRQWKHÁDWVXUIDFHGLYLGHWKHVDPSOH
into quarters.
‡ :HLJKDJDLQDQGLIQRIXUWKHUZHLJKWFKDQJH
is recorded, the sample is dry.
‡'LVFDUGWZRGLDJRQDOO\RSSRVLQJTXDUWHUVUHPL[DQG
repeat the process until the required size sample (up
to 20 g) remains.
‡ ,IVRPHZHLJKWFKDQJHZDVUHFRUGHGGU\DIXUWKHU
one minute and repeat the procedure until no
weight change is recorded.
SAMPLING FOR COMPONENT AND
QUALITY ANALYSIS
COLLECTING A PASTURE SAMPLE
‡ :KHQFROOHFWLQJDVDPSOHUHSUHVHQWDWLYHRIWKH
paddock, walk across a representative part (e.g.
100 m diagonal) of the paddock.
‡(YHU\VHFRQGRUWKLUGVWHSVWRSDQGFXWVFLVVRUV
clippers, electric hand piece or sharpened spoon)
three small samples of the pasture to ground level.
‡&XWDVPDOOVDPSOHRIWKHSDVWXUHDGMDFHQWWRHDFK
foot and then a sample midway between each foot.
‡<RXZLOOUHTXLUHVDPSOHVWRHVWLPDWH
Metabolisable Energy to 0.5 MJME/kgDM.
‡7KLVPHWKRGFDQEHXVHGIRUDVVHVVLQJGU\PDWWHU
percentage and botanical composition or for
sampling for laboratory feed quality analysis.
SAMPLE SIZE REQUIREMENTS
‡ 7KHVDPSOHFROOHFWHGLQWKHSDGGRFNZLOOEHODUJH
‡ 7KLVLVQHHGHGWRDFFRXQWIRUWKHYDULDWLRQLQWKH
paddock.
‡ 7KRURXJKPL[LQJDQGDFFXUDWHVXEVDPSOLQJ
is needed to get accurate results from
later procedures such as NIR or pasture
composition analysis.
‡7DNHVPDOOSRUWLRQVRIWKHVXEVDPSOHDQGGLVVHFWWR
completion before taking another small portion.
‡7KLVDOORZVVWRSSLQJSDUWZD\WKURXJKWKHGLVVHFWLRQ
if sample size has been over-estimated.
‡'LVVHFWXVLQJWZHH]HUVLQWRWKHYDULRXVFRPSRQHQWV
‡5HPRYHDOOGHDGPDWWHUVWULSIURPVKHDWKUHPRYH
part leaves) and put this into the dead component.
3UHSDULQJSDVWXUHIRUODERUDWRU\IHHGTXDOLW\DQDO\VLV
‡3DVWXUHVDPSOHVFDQEHPHDVXUHGXVLQJQHDU
LQIUDUHGDQDO\VLVIRUGLJHVWLELOLW\ÀEUHFDUERK\GUDWH
protein, and Metabolisable Energy (ME).
‡3DVWXUHVDPSOHVDUHFROOHFWHGXVLQJWKHVDPSOLQJ
methods above.
‡5HVSLUDWLRQFRQWLQXHVDIWHUWKHJUDVVKDVEHHQFXW
until it is cooled, and this uses up the carbohydrate
(sugars) in the pasture.
‡,IJUDVVFDQ·WEHNHSWFRROLWVKRXOGEHPLFURZDYHG
as soon as possible for one minute on high in a
paper bag or open dish to stop respiration.
‡7KHJUDVVVKRXOGEHVWHDPLQJLPPHGLDWHO\DIWHU
removal from the microwave.
‡7KHVDPSOHVKRXOGEHFRRODQGGU\DYRLGFROOHFWLQJ
wet grass) when packaged in a zip-locked plastic
bag for immediate mailing to the laboratory.
‡$OWHUQDWLYHO\WKHSDVWXUHFDQEHIXOO\GULHGVHH
drying section) and may be ground before
submitting for NIR analysis.
'U\LQJDQGZHLJKLQJ
‡6HH&DOLEUDWLQJ'U\LQJDQGZHLJKLQJ
7
CALCULATIONS
Pasture dry matter yield
kg DM/ha = fresh weight of grass (g) x dry matter %
10 * Area quadrat (m2)
3DVWXUHIUDFWLRQVIRUQ-Graze
Dead (%) = dried weight of dead (g) x 100
dried total weight (g) 1
Clover (%) = dried weight of clover and herbs (g) x 100
dried weight of green fractions (g) 2
Green grass leaf (%) = dried weight of green grass leaf (g) x 100
dried weight of grass fractions (g) 3
1
'ULHGWRWDOZHLJKW
= dead + clover and herbs + green grass leaf + seedhead and
low quality weeds
2
'ULHGZHLJKWRIJUHHQIUDFWLRQV
= clover and herbs + green grass leaf + seedhead and low
quality weeds
3
'ULHGZHLJKWRIJUDVVIUDFWLRQV
= green grass leaf + seedhead and low quality weeds
8
FIELD RECORDING SHEET
HERBAGE MASS AND COMPONENT ASSESSMENT
Name:
Mass = kg Dry Matter / ha
% dead = dead as a % of total pasture
Date:
% legume/herb = legume/herb as a % of green pasture
% green grass leaf = green grass leaf as a % of remainder
Mass
3ORW
GHDG
OHJXPHKHUE
JUHHQJUDVVOHDI
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
9
FIELD RECORDING SHEET
HERBAGE MASS AND COMPONENT ASSESSMENT
Name:
Mass = kg Dry Matter / ha
% dead = dead as a % of total pasture
Date:
% legume/herb = legume/herb as a % of green pasture
% green grass leaf = green grass leaf as a % of remainder
Mass
3ORW
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
estimated
measured
10
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