EVALUATION OF PASTURE QUALITY UNDER NEW ZEALAND CONDITIONS

Abstract

Pasture quality has been defined as a function of both intake and nutritive value. Results of New Zealand work on the quality of individual pasture species is collated. All grasses studied were of higher quality than perennial ryegrass and the legumes were higher again than the grasses. Possible reasons for these differences are considered. The role of digestibility in defining pasture quality has been examined and 'it was concluded that digestibility is a useful index for low and medium quality herbage, but is of limited use for high quality herbage. Consideration is given to the choice of a suitable index for high quality herbages.