More testing as M. bovis resurfaces
As Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) resurfaces in Canterbury, CRV is reassuring dairy farmers it has rigorous production processes and health testing programmes in place within its supply chain.
From next dairy season CRV Ambreed will offer genetics that will guarantee the birth of polled calves.
The company reports the recent births of three homozygous polled bulls as part of its genetic development programme – the culmination of several years of controlled breeding.
R&D manager Phil Beatson says the goal was to “breed bulls that had two copies of the polled gene”.
“When the bull has two copies of the polled gene, you are guaranteed the bull’s progeny will all be polled, as all get one copy of the poll gene. Conversely, bulls with only one copy of the polled gene are referred to as heterozygous and their progeny has only a 50% chance of being polled.”
The progeny of the polled bulls will not need disbudding – a costly and time-consuming intervention increasingly under scrutiny. For instance, 200 replacements in a herd may cost as much as $1400 to disbud.
“Farmers also require their dairy cattle to have reasonably high indexes. Our three polled bulls, just born, are high indexing. Breeding polled cattle while at the same time having acceptable index is the trick,” Beatson says.
Tokoroa organic dairy farmer Ged Goode started using semen from polled bulls on his 750 Kiwi-cross herd this dairy season. He is looking forward to CRV Ambreed’s offering next season.
“The aim is to have the whole herd polled and producing A2 milk,” Goode says.
“Horns are a health and safety issue as far as the staff and animals are concerned.”
Two of CRV Ambreed’s polled bulls are Holstein-Friesian/Jersey crossbreds and one is a Holstein-Friesian bull.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
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