Distance education on the rise - Massey University
An increasing number of students are doing agricultural and horticultural degrees at Massey University by distance learning.
Massey University professor Velmurugu (Ravi) Ravindran has been awarded the New Zealand Society of Animal Production’s McMeekan Memorial Award, the country’s highest honour for a production animal scientist.
The award is given only to an outstanding individual or group worthy of the honour; it was last awarded in 2013.
Ravindran, from Massey’s Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, specialises in poultry nutrition, with emphasis on nutrient metabolism, feed enzymes, feed evaluation, amino acid availability, gut flora management and early nutrition in poultry.
Senior lecturer Dr Nicola Schreurs, who nominated professor Ravindran for the award, says his strong ties with the industry have allowed for rapid advances in technology.
“The progressiveness of the poultry industry is attributable to the work that Ravi has done.
“He is also widely acknowledged as a researcher who laid the foundations for much of the current understanding of feed enzyme technology. This is becoming more critical in the current context of sustainability – maximising the utilisation of available feed resources and lowering the environmental impact from animal production.”
The McMeekan Memorial Award honours Dr Harold McMeeken, a distinguished leader in animal production research and administration in NZ and worldwide.
He influenced NZ agricultural research and the development of Ruakura as a world renowned research centre.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.

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