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FORMER LANDCORP boss and Massey University Chancellor Chris Kelly will chair the board of the new entity Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics.
Graham Alder, the former genetics business manager of Zoetis, has been appointed general manager of Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics.
The appointments follow the successful vote at the Beef + Lamb New Zealand annual meeting to combine the organisation's current genetics investments. This means Sheep Improvement Ltd (the national sheep genetic dataset), the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Central Progeny Test and Ovita, with added investment in beef genetics, come together with government funds to create the new entity Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand will continue its annual investment of $2.9 million a year for the next five years and the Government's contribution is $3 million a year over the period.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive, Dr Scott Champion says it is an exciting time as the work planned would be speeding up genetics gains to match market requirements and deliver more profitable sheep and cattle.
Investment will be made in a range of research and of particular focus will be finding the traits that thrive on hill country as increasingly this is where New Zealand sheep and beef production is based as flatter land changes to dairy.
Dr Champion says there are estimated genetic gains of $742 million for the sector over the next 20 years and this should be a confidence booster for sheep and beef farmers nationwide.
A new beef breeding index is expected to be the talk of the bull sales over the next month or so. Six bull studs from around the country have got together and come up with new indexes for the sector, which they claim reflects what the market wants. David Anderson reports...
A strong focus on genetics and DNA has paid dividends for Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw with four of her cows being selected for the LIC breeding programme.
Recently updated import protocols means that imports of cattle genetic material into NZ from other countries has effectively come to a standstill.
Genetics will play a key role in helping dairy farmers meet climate targets at a herd level, while maintaining the highest quality milk production, says CRV managing director James Smallwood.
Genetics will play a key role in helping farmers achieve a premium for their milk as part of Fonterra's new Co-operative Difference Payment.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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