Waikato sharemilker launches ‘Tinder for cows’ using AI and breeding data
Waikato sharemilker Matthew Zonderop had no inkling that one day he would become a matchmaker for cows.
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.
An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.
Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
OPINION: Should cows in NZ be microchipped?
OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the…