increase font size
Jason Archer, genetics specialist at Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and INZB science lead.
More than 50 bulls have been nominated as sires for use in the innovative Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme’s upcoming mating season, the highest number since the across-breed progeny test was launched in 2020.
Angus, Hereford and Simmental breeders have nominated 52 bulls for the 2023-mating of the programme’s acrossbreed Beef Progeny Test (BPT).
“We’re really pleased with the positive response from breeders,” says Dr Jason Archer, genetics specialist at Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and INZB science lead.
“It shows how serious farmers are about improving productivity and profitability in the beef sector. Ultimately, the BPT will play an important role in strengthening New Zealand’s beef industry for the benefit of all farmers.
“It is enabling us to evaluate good bulls on the same level playing field while demonstrating the differences and similarities between the breeds and also the benefits of hybrid vigour.
“The BPT is a key part of our mission to give breeders and farmers the tools to produce great-tasting beef backed by a strong environmental story, while at the same time improving production efficiency.”
The upcoming mating season will again be undertaken at Pāmu’s Kepler farm near Te Anau and Lochinver Station near Taupo.
Breeders of bulls selected for use in the test will also be provided with detailed information about the performance of their bull’s progeny, including data on growth, fertility and carcase traits.
The INZB BPT builds on data gathered from the previous Beef Progeny Test with mating carried out between 2014- 2019 on several largescale commercial cattle operations throughout the country.
On Kepler farm, Hereford and Angus cows are run side-by-side with crosses undertaken both ways. Lochinver Station joined the programme as a Progeny Test host farm last year, enabling Simmental genetics to be included in the BPT for the first time.
INZB is a seven-year Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures partnership supported by the Ministry for Primary Industries, B+LNZ and the New Zealand Meat Board, which aims to boost the sector’s profits by $460m over the next 25 years.
The objectives of the programme are to develop a beef genetic evaluation system that includes traits that are important to New Zealand beef farmers and supports a sustainable beef farming industry.
It is also creating easyto- use tools that enable data to be efficiently collected, managed, analysed and used by farmers to make profitable decisions for their operation and creating a new approach to extension design with the goal of increasing farmer engagement across the industry.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
Waikato farmer Craig Clausen had an unpleasant experience after an outbreak of mastitis cases on farm, suspected to be caused by the pathogen Serratia.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is a funding partner of DAGI (Drench and Grazing Integration), a new digital tool designed to help farmers manage parasites more efficiently and reduce reliance on drenches.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
It's common to look at reproductive challenges through the lens of the mating season. If cows aren’t cycling, if submission rates are low, or if too many come up empty, most farmers will dig into their mating programme to figure out what went wrong.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.
