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.
Rising interest in dairy sheep is about to be matched by the availability of milking ewes thanks to 15-year-old frozen embryos.
The pure East Friesian embryos, which have been frozen in time since the late 1990s, will be an essential part of a new genetic improvement programme. Dr Jock Allison, the original importer of the breed, retained the unique gene pool.
Maui Milk general manager Peter Gatley and Jake Chardon attended a dairy sheep conference at Massey in February this year and found themselves in conversation with Allison.
They were surprised to discover that 1700 East Friesian embryos still existed in their pure form, untouched in liquid nitrogen for more than 15 years. A deal was done on the spot, and within weeks, the entire stock was surgically implanted in recipient ewes at Awapai in Hawkes Bay, owned by Simon Beamish, one of the Rissington Breedline founding partners.
Impetus for the initiative has come from the creation of Maui Milk, a joint venture partnership between New Zealand farming and Chinese marketing interests.
Mated over maternal breeds such as Poll Dorset, Coopworth or Highlander, the result is known as an 'F1', or first cross, a hybrid with milking ability, constitution and hybrid vigour.
Similar ewes have formed the basis of the flock of 3000 milked by the Waituhi Kuratau Trust, the Maui Milk joint venture partner farming west of Lake Taupo.
The females resulting from the embryo programme will be milked in 2016, providing valuable data on the comparative performance of the pure strain under local conditions, and the top performers will be selected as embryo donors. Rams from various bloodlines will be retained for progeny testing, and the remainder will generate up to 10,000 crossbred milking ewes in their first year.
Allison is delighted to see the potential of the gene pool being realised. "I didn't want to see those embryos go out 50 or 100 at a time because this would dissipate the value. There's a critical mass of genetic material there that these guys can work with. I've no doubt they'll create something special".
This initiative will not only drive genetic gain, but also carry out farm system development to provide a template for Kiwi farmers to replicate. It is known as Southern Cross Dairy Sheep Technology.
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
One of the country's top Māori sheep and beef farms is facing a five-year battle to get back to where it was before Cyclone Gabrielle struck just over 14 months ago.
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