Dry weather classification expands to North Island
The dry weather in some parts of the North Island has received medium-scale adverse event classification from the Government.
With the threat of climate change confronting New Zealand dairy farming, CRV Ambreed says their tropical dairy breed may provide a solution.
The herd improvement company has recently widened the focus of its tropical dairy genetics scheme, which has sparked the interest of a handful of Northland-based farmers.
CRV Ambreed began introducing Sahiwal and Gyr genetics to their breeding programme to meet a growing overseas demand for heat tolerance and tick resilience, combined with the added benefits of New Zealand's grazing genetics.
Sahiwal, a popular high merit dairy breed in Central America, South America, Asia, and Africa, sires small, fast-growing calves that typically have good temperaments, ease of calving, heat and drought tolerance, and parasite resistance. Gyr, a common dairy breed in Brazil, displays similar traits to the Sahiwal.
A number of New Zealand farmers dealing with sub-tropical environmental conditions have since started using the crossbred option.
CRV Ambreed genetic strategist Phil Beatson says tropical breeds tend to have lower milk production than the temperate dairy breeds like Friesian and Jersey; their key strength is heat and parasite tolerance.
However, when crossed to the temperate breeds, the crossbred cattle have higher milk production than the straight tropical cattle, explains Beatson. As the proportion of tropical make-up decreases, Beatson expects that milk production will increase. For example, 25% tropical cows will have higher production than 50% tropical cows.
"Results show that in Northland, 34% Sahiwal, 66% Friesian cows in a once-a-day system produced up to 1kg of milk solids per day for the first 100 days of lactation. 20% Sahiwal cows produced up to 1.3kg milk solids in the same system," says Beatson.
"If used in the sub-tropical regions of New Zealand, a proportion of Sahiwal and Gyr genetics across Friesian and Jersey cows could help combat warmer temperatures resulting from climate change."
CRV Ambreed and PGG Wrightson have worked together for 30 years to successfully import and cross Sahiwal semen to breed dairy heifers for export. Their joint programme resulted in a number of crossbred bulls that have progeny in New Zealand.
CRV Ambreed is currently marketing one bull, 'Flip-Flop', whose breed make up is 18% Sahiwal, 50% Jersey and 32% Friesian. Flip-Flop will leave cows that are 9% tropical, meaning they carry the benefits of heat tolerance and tick resistance.
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.
Listed Canterbury milk processor Synlait’s shares have been placed in a trading halt.
OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.
A step-by-step guide helping farmers through the process of creating a Freshwater Farm Plan (FWFP) has been launched by FarmIQ.
OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.
OPINION: The hustle and bustle of one of Bangkok's most popular fast food outlets may feel a world away from…