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.
A team led by DairyNZ received a Primary Industries Award at the Kudos Awards last week.
DairyNZ received the award for its Improving Dairy Fertility Genetics research project.
The project determined new ways to select inherently fertile cows and has demonstrated that genetic selection for cow fertility will improve herd reproduction.
“It is tremendous to receive this award recognising the value of the research,” said project co-leader Dr Susanne Meier.
The Improving Dairy Fertility Genetics project used a genetics approach to achieve herd reproduction targets by increasing the fertility breeding value’s accuracy.
“The ability of cows to become pregnant each year to calve in a seasonally concentrated period is critical to the profitability and sustainability of New Zealand’s pasture-based systems,” Meier said.
The second phase of the research is currently underway, focusing on validating the results of the study on a larger scale.
“When we get that validation, we can recommend the industry use the puberty trait and other novel measures for better fertility,” said project co-leader Dr Chris Burke.
The work is part of DairyNZ’s Pillars of a new Dairy System research, which is funded by both DairyNZ and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
Further support has been given by AgResearch, Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), CRV Ambreed and AbacusBio.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
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.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
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.
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.
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