Fifth-generation dairy farmer Rebecca Keoghan is the new independent chair of the Animal Evaluation Governance Group.
The governance group is tasked to strengthen animal evaluation for the purpose of accelerating genetic gain in the dairy sector. It was formed in 2024 to tackle the issues identified in the Industry Working Group’s (IWG) final report.
Keoghan says she’s excited to take up this position, outlining her clear priorities for the next two years.
“I have been tasked with leading the governance group to achieve the objectives of this report,” she says.
“The report highlighted real opportunities for improvement for New Zealand. We know we’ve got plenty of work ahead of us to make the progress we need. We simply can’t sit on our laurels, or we will slip backwards,” she says.
The IWG report states that “the current system for genetic gain in New Zealand was not fit-for-purpose and that New Zealand’s genetic herd has lagged relative to other advanced dairy industries”.
The IWG report noted its confidence that New Zealand can catch up to fully harness the benefits of genomics for faster genetic gain, unlocking increased profitability and improving environmental outcomes.
“We’ve formed a road map for improving the genetic gain system for New Zealand’s dairy herd, and my job is to move us along it, providing the independent perspective and ultimately drive the work streams forward, working with my fellow members and their partner organisations,” Keoghan says.
DairyNZ, LIC and CRV have each committed to making changes for the sector’s benefit and are participating in the Governance Group and working with industry stakeholders, to progress the report’s recommendations.
The Group is overseeing a programme of work to strengthen animal evaluation for the purpose of accelerating genetic gain in the dairy sector that includes:
- establishing a future looking National Breeding Objective
- developing a solution to have one Breeding Worth Index
- developing mechanisms to provide transparency and confidence in the system
- improving the volume and quality of phenotypic data collection
- bringing in relevant international expertise, and
- engagement and extension activities to increase the value for farmers of animal evaluation.
Keoghan joins Cam Henderson (DairyNZ), Corrigan Sowman (LIC), James Smallwood (CRV), and Steve Howse (NZAEL) on the Governance Group.
She is chair of Fire & Emergency NZ and a director of Alpine Energy Limited and Gravity Dance. She was a previous chair of Tai Poutini Polytechnic and deputy chair of Timaru District Holdings and has held multiple other directorships.
In 2016, Keoghan was awarded Dairy Woman of the Year, in 2017 she received a New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to business, and in 2018 she was awarded the Rural Westpac Woman of Influence award.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown welcomed the appointment noting that Rebecca Keoghan comes with the right mix of senior governance experience paired with a strong dairy background.
“As a fifth-generation dairy farmer Rebecca understands the importance of our industry and its challenges. I am excited to see this governance group now fully formed and set up to progress the workstreams to accelerate the rates of genetic gain in the New Zealand dairy sector,” she says.
