18.5% Faster Lamb Growth on AgriSea Treated Pasture.
University Proven.
A Lincoln University trial - now published in the peer-reviewed journal Agriculture - confirms that AgriSea Soil, Pasture & Ocean Nutrition applied to ryegrass-clover pasture delivers heavier lambs, healthier ewes, and less metabolic stress. One application from lambing to weaning.
What This Means If You Run Sheep on Ryegrass
Most NZ sheep farmers run ewes and lambs on ryegrass-white clover pasture. This trial tested what happens when you add a single AgriSea application (Soil + Pasture + Ocean Nutrition) to that same standard pasture. The answer: lambs grow 18.5% faster, ewes recover dramatically better from lambing, and metabolic stress drops significantly - all from the same paddock.
Lambs on AgriSea-treated ryegrass-clover gained 384.9 g/day vs 324.7 g/day on untreated pasture. That's an extra 60 grams per day - or 4.8kg more per lamb over an 80-day lambing to weaning period.
4.8kg Heavier at Weaning
Over 80 days, treated lambs gained 4.8kg more than untreated lambs on the same ryegrass-clover pasture. At current store lamb prices, that's meaningful extra revenue per head.
Ewes Gain 5.4x More Weight
Treated ewes gained 89.1g/day vs just 16.5g/day for control ewes. That means ewes recover from lambing faster and go into mating in better condition - directly affecting your scanning rate next year.
39% Less Metabolic Stress
Untreated ewes showed 39% higher NEFA levels (stress markers). AgriSea-treated ewes stayed within normal range - meaning better energy balance, fewer health issues, and less vet intervention.
Up to $204/ha Net Profit
After product costs, the net gain from extra lamb weight alone is $146-$204 per hectare. That's from a single application of Soil, Pasture, and Ocean Nutrition.
The Rye & Clover Results: In Detail
These numbers are specifically from the ryegrass-white clover paddocks - the most common pasture type on NZ sheep farms. All paddocks received standard baseline fertiliser. The only difference was the AgriSea treatment.
Lamb Average Daily Gain (Lambing → Weaning)
Higher = faster growth, heavier lambs at weaning
Ewe Average Daily Gain (Lambing → Weaning)
Higher = faster post-lambing recovery, better condition for mating
Ewe NEFA Levels (Metabolic Stress Marker)
Lower = better energy balance, less stress - normal range is 0.1-0.6 mmol/L
The AgriSea Effect Across All Pasture Types
The trial tested three pasture systems - ryegrass-clover, a 23-species diverse mix, and functionally diverse strip swards. Across all of them, AgriSea treatment consistently improved outcomes.
across all pasture types
(58.2 vs 22.1 g/day)
(0.53 vs 0.89 mmol/L)
(0.49 vs 0.70 mmol/L)
in carcass assessment
from seaweed treatment
Lamb ADG Across All Six Treatment Groups
Grey = untreated control | Dark = AgriSea treated | Lambing to weaning
Why Does It Work?
The research showed that AgriSea treatment directly improved the pasture itself - increasing digestibility and metabolisable energy while reducing fibre content. Better pasture = better nutrition = faster growth and less stress.
Higher Pasture Energy
Seaweed-treated pastures had higher metabolisable energy (ME) and dry matter digestibility (DMD) and lower fibre (NDF, ADF) than untreated pastures (p<0.05). Your animals are eating better-quality feed.
Better Energy Balance
Lower NEFA in both ewes and lambs means animals are getting enough energy from pasture rather than breaking down body fat. That's the difference between thriving and just surviving.
Improved Milk Quality
Ewe milk from treated pastures had higher levels of beneficial fatty acids and essential amino acids - meaning lambs are getting better nutrition from their mothers during the critical pre-weaning period.
Better Carcass Quality
Lambs from the best-performing treatment group (strip + AgriSea) had the highest loin yield (15.79%) and shoulder yield (17.43%) - the cuts that attract premium prices.
The Economics
The application is simple and the maths is straightforward:
Application
5L/ha Soil Nutrition
5L/ha Pasture Nutrition
7L/ha Ocean Nutrition
Timing
One application from lambing to weaning
(applied 3× over the season in this trial)
Net Return
$146-$204/ha
net profit after product costs
At 4.8kg extra per lamb and current store prices, the return far exceeds the input cost. For a 200-hectare sheep farm, that's $29,200-$40,800 in additional net returns from a single pasture treatment programme.
Products Used in This Trial
Soil Nutrition
Improve soil structure and fertility, foster healthy root growth and enhance nutrient availability through a healthier soil biome.
View Product Details
Pasture Nutrition
Enhance pasture growth, quality and resilience with natural seaweed-based nutrition designed for optimal grazing performance.
View Product DetailsAbout the Research
This study was conducted at Lincoln University's Johnstone Memorial Sheep Farm from September 2022 to March 2023. It used a rigorous 3×2 factorial design with 90 pregnant ewes across six treatment groups, and has been peer-reviewed and published in the journal Agriculture (2025).
The trial measured lamb and ewe growth performance, blood metabolic markers (NEFA, urea, TAS), ewe milk fatty acid and amino acid composition, and lamb carcass characteristics at a commercial abattoir.
Kumara, S.N.; Fleming, A.; Pereira, F.; Khan, A.; Kelly, S.; Grelet, G.-A.; Gregorini, P. (2025). Enhancing Sheep Vitality Through Diverse Pastures and Seaweed Bio-Stimulants. Agriculture, 15, 1764. doi:10.3390/agriculture15161764
Ready to Grow Heavier Lambs?
Talk to your local AgriSea Field Consultant about adding Soil, Pasture & Ocean Nutrition to your sheep paddocks this season.