Grass-fed certification good for business

Quantifying New Zealand’s grass-fed red meat and dairy products will help them cut through the competition in premium overseas markets, the government says.

A voluntary Grass-Fed certification scheme launched at Mystery Creek last month puts a ‘clear, trusted stamp’ on what Kiwi farmers have always done best, according to Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.

The scheme is based on recently formulated NZ Grass-Fed Administrative Standards owned and administered by MPI.

The new standard for dairy defines grass-fed as meaning animals have a diet comprised of at least 90 per cent of the qualifying grass-fed feed types and are on pasture or forage crops for at least eight hours a day, 340 days per year.

MPI says the eight hour daily minimum represents the minimum time for a dairy cow to satisfy their daily feed requirements from grazing pasture or forage crops.

Qualifying grass-fed feed types range from grazed pasture, kikuyu, chicory and brassicas to hay, baleage and straw made from cereals, lucerne and pasture.

Non-qualifying feed types include canola meal, maize silage, dried distillers grain, whole grains, and palm kernel extract.

Grass-fed schemes from Fonterra and Spring Sheep Milk have already been assessed and confirmed as compliant with the new standard.

For red meat, animals must be mostly raised on qualifying grass-fed feed types and be permitted to graze outdoors on pasture or forage crops year-round.

Supplements may include manufacturing feeds, as long as these do not contain animal protein or animal fat, other than dairy.

MPI says the standards allow for animals to be removed from pasture to safeguard them or the environment through any adverse weather events or for any other animal management requirements.

AgResearch scientists Stuart Ledgard and Robyn Dynes reviewed the new dairy standard before it was released.

They say it provides ‘a clear framework’ for initial evaluation across a range of potential contributing farmers and processors.

And they recommend this initial evaluation includes assessment of the practicality (including of required record keeping) and ease of estimation of the two key requirements relating to meeting grass-fed and threshold grazing times.

“In particular, it will be important that assessors adhere to the MPI feed energy requirement methodology and the details in the Schedules of the NZ Grass-Fed Standard.

“This initial evaluation may require more specificity to methodology to ensure consistency of application.”

Todd McClay says the standards are a commercial tool to improve the value of NZ exports, not just a label.

“In key markets, we’re up against countries that claim grass-fed credentials but feed their animals grain part of the year or keep them indoors for long periods. NZ’s system is different—our livestock on grass, year-round, in the world’s best farming conditions.”

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