LIC ends year with $30.6m profit
Herd improvement company LIC has ended the 2024-25 financial year in a strong position - debt-free and almost quadrupling its net profit.
The genetic gain and value that LIC bulls are delivering on New Zealand dairy farms is confirmed in the latest Ranking of Active Sires (RAS) list.
27 of the best 30 bulls on the All Breeds list are LIC’s, including the top 14 in a row of all breeds.
“These bulls are managed by LIC on our farmers’ behalf, with massive contributions from our top breeders and our Bull Acquisition team,” LIC general manager biological systems Geoff Corbett says.
“We want to thank everyone involved in the ongoing success of LIC genetics which is a truly collaborative effort. We are committed to continuing to provide farmers with exceptional permanent and cumulative genetic gain.”
Highlights from the RAS list released this week (October 9, 2016) include the following:
· Holstein Friesian: 44 of the top 50 Holstein Friesian bulls in New Zealand are LIC’s, including the top 11 in a row and 18 of the top 20.
· Jersey: LIC has eight of the top 10 Jersey Bulls and 13 of the top 15. LIC says this is an exceptional achievement by its bull acquisition manager jersey Malcolm Ellis, his team and breeders. Of the top 30 Jerseys on the RAS list, 20 are LIC’s.
· Crossbred: 23 of the top 25 Crossbred bulls on the RAS list are LIC’s – an outstanding result. This includes the top five in a row.
“We know farmers are looking for positives in these tough economic times. We believe the contribution that LIC genetics make to improving the longer-term prosperity and productivity of farming businesses is immense,” Corbett says.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
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