Teen shines at youth camp
Riley Taylor's leadership skills and ability to surmount challenges has seen him presented with the top award at the 2024 World Wide Sires national all dairy breeds youth camp.
How to breed the herd of the future will be front of mind for dairy farmers attending Fieldays at Mystery Creek.
The Government’s Zero Carbon Bill calls for dairy cow numbers to be drastically reduced to meet the ten year and 30 year targets.
“Kiwi farmers are among the most progressive in the world,” says Hank Lina, general manager of international genetics firm World Wide Sires.
“They constantly achieve the seemingly impossible in all aspects of farming. The prospect of reducing cow numbers by even 10% in as many years is a scary one if they continue to milk the same cows.
“The only solution is to start today to breed a cow which will outperform today’s contemporaries so farmers can milk fewer cows and maintain or increase their production. It is possible, but they need a plan. And that plan starts now.”
Lina cites the old adage ‘if you always do what you’ve always done you’ll get what you’ve always got’.
“New Zealand’s Breeding Worth (BW) evaluation tool was introduced decades ago, its legacy evident in a national herd which averages 380kgMS cow.
“At Fieldays we will promote how farmers can move from a per cow average of 380kgMS to cows which consistently and over a long time produce 550kg plus per year.”
Lina said WWS has genetically advanced bulls selected specifically for NZ’s grazing environment. These produce highly productive, fertile, moderate size cows with udders and feet which will last in the herd.
World Wide Sires will be at site PC12 at Fieldays.
OPINION: The recent Federated Farmers / Rabobank 2024 Farming Salaries Report revealed strong growth in farm salaries over the past two years.
The low unemployment environment is one of the key factors driving on-farm salaries higher over the past 24 months, says Rabobank general manager for country banking Bruce Weir.
Fonterra has appointed a new chief financial officer, seven months after its last CFO’s shock resignation.
A seminar on rural dispute resolution has been organised at Lincoln University, Christchurch this month.
The legacy of Dr Peter Snow continues to inspire as the recipients of the 2023 and 2024 Peter Snow Memorial Awards were announced at the recent National Rural Health Conference.
One of Fonterra’s global customers, Mars is launching an ambitious sustainable dairy plan to work with dairy farmers and cut emissions by 50%.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.
OPINION: It seems every bugger in this country can get an award these days.