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

Innovation is in Hill Labs DNA

Hill Labs founder, Dr Roger Hill, recognised that innovation thrives when rooted in a solid foundation of technical expertise. Hill Labs has developed a wide range of pioneering PCR testing services, spanning food safety, public health, and agriculture sectors. This innovation has been propelled by Hill Labs' technical capability and unwavering customer-centric approach. In the context of food safety, rapid and accurate detection of bacterial pathogens is paramount. Traditionally, identifying pathogens like Listeria, Salmonella, and Cronobacter relied on labour-intensive methods that take several days to yield results.
  15 May 2024

Milestones in Food and Bioanalytical Testing

The evolution of our analytical testing services to the food and bioanalytical sector stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and continuous innovation. Each milestone along our journey represents a strategic step forward, reflecting our dedication to responding to market demands and surpassing client expectations. For our fortieth birthday edition, let's embark on a journey through time, exploring some pivotal moments that have defined our trajectory.
  15 May 2024

40 Years of Soil Testing

Soil testing holds a special place at Hill Labs. Forty years ago, Roger and Anne Hill started their business by providing soil and leaf testing to customers in agriculture and horticulture. The methods have evolved over the years as improvements have been made, but the fundamentals remain the same. As sample numbers grew, so too did the desire to innovate the process. The operation of processing a soil sample from reception through to analysis is quite manual. This was the driver for the birth of RoSEE (Robotic Soil Extraction Equipment) in 2002.
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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.