Lifestyle File

Practical, trustworthy articles for lifestyle farmers. Browse by species, season, or topic. New content added every week.

Conformation - a Guide

Understanding what cattle should look like - and what are undesirable traits.

Conformation - Focus on feet

A look at cattle feet - what is good and what is bad!

Conformation - teeth

Cattle teeth - what's good and what's not!

Two summer grasses

Discover two lesser-known summer grasses on New Zealand lifestyle blocks: Brown Top and Weeping Grass. Learn how to identify them, their role in pasture, and whether they’re friends or foes.

Australian Sedge

Australian Sedge is an aggressive, invasive weed spreading through North Island pastures. Learn how to identify and manage it effectively before it becomes unmanageable.

Grass species

An introduction to identifying common grasses in New Zealand pastures. Learn when and how to observe grass flowering and why it matters for pasture quality.