Pasture and Forages

Pasture and Forages

New Zealand's pastoral sector has been built on feeding stock with high quality pasture, supplemented at appropriate times of the year with additional feedstuffs to ensure optimal animal health and performance. Click here for more information

Pasture Testing

There are several dimensions to pasture analysis that farmers need to consider – energy, protein, fibre, dry matter and mineral content. And some of these dimensions are more important at particular times of the year than others.

For a more complete listing of our pasture testing options and the associated test details, simply download our services offered, specifically designed for pasture and feed testing.

Nitrate Feed Testing

The nitrate component of pasture or feeds is absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream of ruminant animals. When the level of dietary nitrate is high, some of the absorbed nitrate is converted to nitrite, which reduces the ability of the blood (haemoglobin) to carry oxygen. “Nitrate Poisoning” is actually a form of suffocation (anoxia). To ensure that the risk of nitrate poisoning is appropriately managed we recommend using our Nitrate Feed Testing services. Details of this service can be found in our technical note.

Latest Stories

ANZAC Day Lab Closures

A friendly reminder that our Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Blenheim, and Christchurch labs will be closed on Thursday, 25 April. Our Bay of Plenty lab will remain open. If you plan to send any time or temperature-sensitive samples, please ensure you schedule these to arrive before or after this date, to avoid delays.
  15 Apr 2024

Honey Testing - our industry-leading turnaround times

Ensuring consistent turnaround times is paramount as we prepare for the upcoming honey season. By maintaining efficiency and reliability in our operations, we not only meet the demands of our clients, but also uphold our reputation for excellence in service delivery.
  19 Feb 2024

Ag Plant Test Changes Coming

The start of a new year is when most businesses look at what they do, and make changes where it is sensible to do so. For our Ag section, there are a couple of small changes to advise on, following this review.
  15 Feb 2024

What our customers have to say

"We've always found them to be responsive in getting results back and giving advice on problems we might be facing."

Andrew Hutchinson, Technical Manager, Turners & Growers

"We strongly recommend Hill Labs as a sound testing service provider to the honey industry."

Nick Walker, Technical Manager, Egmont Honey

"Their sample registration system has made things simple and seamless - collect, scan and send!"

Mathew Bannister, Compliance Manager, First Fresh New Zealand

Accreditations

As a New Zealand accredited laboratory by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), Hill Labs' commitment to quality is tantamount to our overall operating philosophy. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work.