Boost for NZ, Nordic Jerseys genetic link
A new collaboration is underway to improve the genetic links between the New Zealand and Nordic Jersey cattle populations.
LIC has formed a distribution partnership with Israeli-based Afimilk to market its hi-tech cow collars in New Zealand.
The AfiCollar, worn around the cow’s neck, collects data on animal health, wellbeing and fertility.
Afimilk is one of the dairy industry’s leading producers of cow behaviour sensors, farm management software and milk meters, and supplies cow collars internationally.
LIC unsuccessfully sought shareholder approval last year to by a 50% stake in Afimilk; the $109million deal failed to receive the required shareholder support to proceed.
LIC chief executive Wayne McNee says, as sector leaders, the parties remained in contact and recently reached a new agreement regarding Afimilk’s cow collar technology.
“We are working to build an integrated, collaborative technology ecosystem that makes it as easy as possible for farmers to adopt new technologies. Farmers need to be able to choose the technology and products that are best suited to them.
“Our role is to ensure that proven technology can integrate with LIC’s existing systems and herd management software into the future.”
McNee says AfiCollars are among the best in the world and well suited to meet the unique challenges of New Zealand’s pastoral dairy environment.
“Our proven work in genomics, reproduction and animal health is enabling farmers to be more efficient and their herds to be more productive each year. Cow behavioural monitoring devices like the AfiCollar will deliver complementary on farm benefits such as more accurate heat detection and animal health and welfare monitoring.”
AfiCollars will integrate with Protrack, LIC’s farm automation technology, which will allow for increased efficiency and faster, more informed decision-making on farm.
There is already strong demand for cow wearable technology by farmers, and for it to integrate with LIC’s farm automation systems.
“The ‘connected cow,’ wearing this technology, will shape the future of the dairy industry and help New Zealand maintain its world leading edge in precision farming,” says McNee.
“LIC is looking to work with other leading New Zealand and international technology providers to continue to offer the very best options for our farmers wanting to utilise new technologies coming to market.”
Afimilk chief executive Yuval Rachmilevitz says he is excited to be cementing a new agreement with LIC for the distribution of AfiCollars.
“We share a combined commitment to enabling farmers to continually improve on-farm productivity through new technology and it is exciting to be further enabling this in New Zealand.”
Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.
Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.
WoolWorks, New Zealand’s largest wool-scouring company, has partnered with the Lions Club of Riverton to help raise money for much-needed repairs to the Southland town’s swimming pool.
OPINION: The dairy industry will be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).
Dairy Women's Network (DWN) is partnering with two agribusinesses to deliver better management tools for its members.
The major winners in the 2024 West Coast/Top of the South Share Farmer of the Year award, Michael and Cheryl Shearer were happy to complete the trifecta.
OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.
OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.