Helping heifers grow
Dairy farmers can easily track the performance of their replacement heifers and ensure they reach their genetic potential.
Animal breeding company LIC says its bulls have again taken the top spots in the all-industry list for top bulls across New Zealand.
The ranking are based on a system developed by independent industry experts.
LIC says it has the following positions in the latest Ranking of Active Sires (RAS) List:
· 22 of the top 25 Crossbred bulls are LIC's (including 19 of the top 20)
· 44 of the top 50 Holstein Friesian bulls (including the top 10 of 10 and the top 18 of 20)
· 17 of the top 30 Jersey bulls (including 8 of the top 10)
· 27 of the top 30 overall across all breeds.
LIC bull acquisition manager Malcolm Ellis says LIC's bulls were in great shape on the RAS List and are set to continue to contribute significant genetic gain to the dairy industry.
"Superior cow quality provides such an injection of productivity into farm systems. The value of good cows is never more important than in these more economically challenging times and this current wave of improved genetic merit is great news for farmers and the New Zealand dairy herd," Ellis says.
LIC enjoyed unprecedented levels of graduation to its elite bull teams across the breeds last year; a mark of quality.
"When you look at the Premier Sires teams we are marketing this upcoming mating season, a good half of them graduated last year. They are the new boys on the block and have absolutely proved their potential."
The herd improvement co-operative's genetics team reports it looks like an even better new crop of bulls is shaping up this year, with a real air of excitement among the staff. "We are now looking at the new crop waiting to be analysed and have every reason to believe they have the potential to exceed last year's exceptional graduation rate.
"The daughters of these bulls will be coming into milk production for the first time this season, and the merits of the bulls will be analysed on their daughters' performance within the Sire Proving scheme. We look forward to reporting the next class of top bulls to our farmers in early October," Ellis said.
The latest RAS List results were evaluated and released by DairyNZ on 16 July 2016.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
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.
Graham Brown, the executive chef for Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ), is excited about Korea.