LIC extends New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards sponsorship
LIC has reaffirmed its sponsorship of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) by signing up as a national sponsor for another three years.
Industry good body DairyNZ says it has the expertise lined-up and waiting for the development and management of a new Dairy Industry Good Animal Database, should Livestock Improvement (LIC) shareholders approve the transfer of the Core Database this month.
DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle says the organisation is stepping up for this new stewardship role but is awaiting the result of the LIC vote. Voting is underway with a result to be announced at the LIC annual general meeting on November 14.
The transfer of the Core Database to DairyNZ from LIC is part of an agreement between the two organisations but requires the approval of 75% of voting shareholders.
"This is about realising our vision for a national database covering calving, mating and production data, that we can extend and add to with industry good information. New database fields will be defined and added as new animal traits of relevance for genetic evaluation emerge. It's an exciting project and farmers should see it as a huge industry opportunity," says Mackle.
"Our industry is dynamic and we need a national database that is dynamic too – evolving and developing all the time, in response to dairy farmers' needs. That's the industry's vision and that's what we are committed to delivering."
LIC chief executive Mark Dewdney says he has confidence in DairyNZ's capacity to manage the transfer and develop the new Dairy Industry Good Animal Database.
"We wouldn't be putting this recommendation forward if we didn't believe it was good for shareholders. LIC is a partner and supporter in this proposed transfer and we are an integral part of DairyNZ's steering and stakeholders groups and its planning on how to take this forward," says Dewdney.
DairyNZ's strategic investment leader for productivity, Bruce Thorrold, says DairyNZ has already developed relationships with database development experts, who will work on the transfer process if LIC shareholders vote their approval.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
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