increase font size
Dr Jason Archer.
Next month, the Beef Breeder Forum is set to give farmers an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in the beef industry.
The Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) event in Christchurch on March 18 will bring together a range of experts and leaders from the sector including Simon Kenny, head of impact and communications for McDonald’s NZ, and new B+LNZ chief executive Alan Thomson.
The full day forum will also provide farmers with the first look at nProve Beef, a free, easy-to-use online beef genetics tool designed to help farmers select the best bulls for their specific breeding objectives and farm systems.
The tool has been developed through the B+LNZ-funded Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme in collaboration with the industry.
Simon Kenny will discuss McDonald’s global commitments and direction as a major buyer of New Zealand beef.
There will also be an update on B+LNZ Genetics’ beef programme, insights into research trials on reducing methane and improving feed efficiency and current work around developing NZ-specific selection indexes. A series of breakout sessions will explore innovation in beef genetics.
At the end of the forum, the New Zealand Roundtable for Sustainable Beef will host an open meeting, outlining its sustainability work and mission to ensure New Zealand beef continues to meet consumers’ expectations.
“The forum is designed for stud breeders, industry/rural professionals and commercial farmers with a passion for genetics,” says Dr Jason Archer, Head of Genetics at B+LNZ.
“As well as the informative sessions, delegates who attended previous Beef Forums have told us they get real value from getting together with fellow breeders and industry to share ideas and network,” Archer says.
“So, to maximise those opportunities, this year there will also be a dinner following the event. It’s time off farm, a chance to socialise with others in the industry and celebrate our world class beef.”
Registrations to the event at Addington Events Centre close on Friday 14 February.
Milton dairy farmer Chris Wills says he began using probiotics in spring 2023 to address somatic cell count (SCC) grades when cows transitioned from their winter barn to lush spring pasture.
Treat your farm boundary like a border. This was one of the messages delivered to farmers at a recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand Protect Your Patch workshop in Lincoln.
Feeding infected milk is high risk for spreading diseases such as M. bovis.
To ensure optimal growth, health, and wellbeing of calves, feeding strategies should be considered carefully.
Another milestone has been reached in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis with the compensation assistance service being wound up after helping more than 1300 farmers.
With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) has launched the first in-market activation of the refreshed Taste Pure Nature country-of-origin brand with an exclusive pop-up restaurant experience in Shanghai.
Jayna Wadsworth, daughter of the late New Zealand wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth, has launched an auction of cricket memorabilia to raise funds for I Am Hope's youth mental health work.
As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.
OPINION: Every time politicians come up with an investment scheme where they're going to have a crack at 'picking winners'…
OPINION: What are the unions for these days?
