Sunday, 26 April 2015 15:37

Dairy breeds for climate change

Written by 
Flip-flop Bull. Flip-flop Bull.

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.

More like this

Marlborough drought declaration welcomed

Marlborough Federated Farmers has got some real concern about the mental wellbeing of farmers and their families in the region because of the drought and there’s a lot of pressure starting to build.

Clear breeding goals

Over the last 13 years, Southland dairy farmers Caleb and Paula Hamill have worked hard to realise their dream of farm ownership.

Climate change a constant!

OPINION: Leo Cooney's opinion article (December 5) “Carbon Credits a Discredit” rekindled for me questions about climate change, the ETS, and indeed the whole matter of climate change formerly known as global warming.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Papal visit

OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.

Thai egg tarts

OPINION: The hustle and bustle of one of Bangkok's most popular fast food outlets may feel a world away from…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter