Investing in genetic gain for long-term resilience
The dairy sector is in a strong position, with high milk prices, declining interest rates, and renewed confidence.
LIC and CRV may be rivals in New Zealand but they are working together in Australia.
The farmer-co-op has entered an exclusive distribution agreement with Dutch dairy genetics supplier CRV.
As part of the agreement, LIC’s Australian subsidiary business will distribute CRV’s global genetics products to Australian farmers alongside its own genetics offering. In NZ, LIC competes with CRVAmbreed in the dairy sector.
LIC chief executive Wayne McNee says the agreement would strengthen LIC’s proposition in Australia.
“LIC has been supplying Australian dairy farmers with NZ genetics for more than 15 years, but the inclusion of genetics from CRV will allow us to cater to a wider range of farmers and grow the business in Australia,” McNee says.
CRV Oceania managing director Angus Haslett says the agreement will provide Australian dairy farmers with a range of genetics solutions while maintaining CRV’s strong reputation in the country.
“We see it as a positive move for Australia’s dairy farmers who… need quality genetics at competitive prices….”
The popularity of larger, North American and European-style Holstein-Friesian cow has limited LIC’s ability to provide genetics to a larger proportion of Australian dairy farmers, McNee says.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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