Genetics Key to Lifting Dairy Productivity in New Zealand
Genetics plays a central role in helping farmers lift per-cow productivity over time.
IT'S THE stuff animal breeding sales representative dream of - selling 70,000 semen straws in a season.
CRV Ambreed is celebrating the success of its long serving sales representative in central-northern Southland, who has just sold her 70,000th semen straw of the season for the herd management company.
Irene Saul has worked for CRV Ambreed for nine and a half years and has consistently performed highly in the role. This season, however, is a personal best and an achievement that any sales consultant in New Zealand's competitive dairy genetics industry would respect and acknowledge her for.
"It's all about service," says Saul.
"I have been able to pick up more clients because I'm passionate about where my farming clients want to go with their herd and how I can get them there."
Saul says the job means more to her than 'just selling semen', and what she loves the most is helping farmers improve their animals and give them the best advice about how they could achieve their goals.
"I have taken a real consultant approach to the role and spend a lot of my time walking around the farm with my clients," says Saul.
"I'm also really passionate about CRV Ambreed's products and strongly believe that they will strengthen clients' farming investments. I wouldn't be working for CRV Ambreed if I didn't truly believe in the products and what I can offer my clients."
Saul's client base is broad, ranging from farms of 200 cows to up to 3,000, and there is a balance of corporate farms and privately owned.
"All of my clients are different and I am always willing to go one extra step for them. As a result, I have a great relationship with my clients and there's definitely some that I have a special friendship with."
Regional Sales and Services Manager Sue Duffy says Saul was a real asset to CRV Ambreed and a pleasure to have on her sales team as she always goes that extra mile for her clients.
With the New Zealand/India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) dominating political debate here, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting New Zealand next week.
Michelle and Tony Roberts didn't inherit the farming business they have today. They’ve built it from the ground up.
“We’re not normal.” That’s how Jack Walters, executive director of Pungent Pukeko, describes his gin brand, which has just won gold at the World Gin Awards.
Dr Tim Harwood, a seafood food safety research leader, has been awarded the 2026 Significant Contribution Award at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) Food Industry Awards.
Today marks the first day of operations for Waikato Waters, a new council-controlled organisation established by six district councils to deliver water and wastewater services for their communities.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has announced has opened applications for the 2026/27 funding round of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research (GHGIR) fund.
OPINION: No one messes around with Winston Peters, more so in a general election year.
OPINION: Staying on Federated Farmers, this week's annual general meeting in Auckland is shaping up to be an interesting one.