Herd production performance soars
New data released by LIC and DairyNZ shows New Zealand dairy farmers have achieved the highest six week in-calf rate and lowest notin- calf rate on record.
LIC Sire Proving Scheme (SPS) Farmers of the Year Bryan and Suzanne Jackson have been in the programme for 18 years.
Bryan told Dairy News he is proud to be among farmers helping shape the dairy industry of the future.
The Jacksons use unproven bulls in the herd on their farm at Kereone, Morrinsville.
“We don’t have a choice of bulls; we use different bulls every day for a five week AB programme.
“We score the daughters on various traits like temperament and adaptability to milking when they enter the herd two years later.”
SPS farmer feedback helps LIC assess the bull daughters for various production, health and fitness traits.
Bryan says one advantage of joining the SPS is having access to genetics well before other farmers. He has seen productivity rise in his 450-cow herd – from 300kgMS/cow 20 years ago to about 500kgMS/cow now.
He says he is “really stoked’ to have won the SPS farmer of the year award.
Suits a stable hand
According to LIC, the SPS suits farmers with stable herds who can commit for a minimum of four years.
An interest in breeding is essential, as are good organisation and record keeping skills.
The data they collect gives each bull a ‘daughter proof’. Bulls with the best proofs are then marketed to the wider dairy industry.
The ‘daughter proof’ also helps to validate and refine the accuracy of LIC’s genomic data used to breed and select bull calves coming into the scheme year on year.
Information collected as part of the Sire Proving Scheme includes:
Insemination - non return rates
Calving - calf defects, calving assistance
Rearing - health issues, traits, general performance
Milking - herd test information, live weight data, traits other than production.
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.
OPINION: Canterbury milk processor Synlait is showing no sign of bouncing back from its financial doldrums.
OPINION: It seems every bugger in this country can get an award these days.