Tuesday, 30 May 2023 10:55

Breeding index proposal uproar

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Peter Gatley says the NZAEL proposal is counterproductive. Peter Gatley says the NZAEL proposal is counterproductive.

The call for a single national animal evaluation breeding index that incorporates genetics is causing friction among the dairy sector's key players.

Farmer-owned co-operative LIC and industry-good organisation DairyNZ are at loggerheads as a public consultation gets underway.

DairyNZ - through subsidiary New Zealand Animal Evaluation Ltd (NZAEL) - believes that creating one animal evaluation index would ensure breeding decisions are made consistently.

It proposes that a single evaluation will be co-ordinated by NZAEL - as an industry good, credible source of data available to everyone to use.

The sector is currently using three Breeding Worth animal evaluation indexes. DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says this creates confusion in the sector - and sub-optimal outcomes.

"We believe the best way to help dairy farmers achieve the highest rate of genetic gain in their herd is to have one independent Breeding Worth (BW), including genomics and involving all the industry players."

But LIC disagrees. In a letter to LIC shareholders, chief executive David Chin says the co-operative doesn't endorse the proposal that has been suggested.

"We agree in principle to a single index, however, where our views divereg is around the actual value that this would unlock for New Zealand dairy farmers with the model that has been proposed

"There are two key things for you to note as an LIC shareholder - we're already getting higher rates of genetic gain.

"Long-term users of LIC genetics have almost doubled the rate of genetic gain in their herds over the last 10 years - now at 18gBW per annum.

"This surpasses the industry average of 10BW, as stated by DairyNZ. In fact, we have already surpsassed the DairyNZ proposal's goal of 15BW. Genomics has been a key contributor to this success."

Peter Gatley, a former head of LIC's genetics business, says NZAEL's proposal is counterproductive.

Gatley told Dairy News that the New Zealand industry has been well served by LIC and CRV, two of the leading genetics companies worldwide. The competitive tension that exists between two companies is exactly what has driven them to invest heavily in genetic improvement by both traditional methods and the use of genomic technology.

"What is proposed by NZAEL is entirely counterproductive because it would diminish or remove the incentive to invest," he says.

"Claims made by NZAEL regarding the comparative rates of genetic gain in New Zealand vs. overseas are erroneous and quite misleading.

"Firstly, the annual rate of gain in recent ears is far higher than 10BW units, so that claim is erroneous. Reference to the relative rate of gain is misleading because it fails to recognise the fact that genomic tools must be developed using data derived in the relevant farm system. Because New Zealand is an outlier in respect of its seasonal pasture-based farm system, its genomic tools are unique.

"Development of these tools has been further complicated by the multi-breed and cross-breeding situation in New Zealand where most cows do not have four white feed and a white switch. Taking these factors into account, the fact that so much progress has been made on genomics demonstrates how well the competitive model is working for NZ dairy farmers."

Gatley says the attempt by NZAEL to requisition the IP belonging to two independent companies threatens to kill the golden goose.

"New Zealanders do not need reminding that removal of the incentive to get out of bed in the morning and add value results in a death spiral. There is no market failure in genetic improvement NZAEL is now threatening just that."

Public consultation closes 5pm on June 27.

More like this

Strong uptake of good wintering practices

DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.

Better animal genetic gain system

A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.

OSPRI's costly software upgrade

Animal disease management agency OSPRI has announced sweeping governance changes as it seeks to recover from the expensive failure of a major software project.

Musical chairs

OPINION: DairyNZ's director elections has seen scientist Jacqueline Rowarth re-elected for another three-year term.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

OSPRI's costly software upgrade

Animal disease management agency OSPRI has announced sweeping governance changes as it seeks to recover from the expensive failure of…

Machinery & Products

BA Pumps expand

Cambridge based BA Pumps & Sprayers, specialists in New Zealand-made spraying equipment, has acquired Tokoroa Engineering’s product range, including the…

Entries open for innovation award

Fieldays and its renowned Innovation Awards are celebrating their 57th year, marking a longstanding tradition in the agricultural calendar, with…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Chinese strategy

OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.

Not fair

OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter