Farming genetics making more sense

That is why Focus Genetics were keen for a part in the East Coast Farming with Technology Expo in Wairoa next April.

Representatives will be onsite at the two day expo to celebrate new technologies in sheep, cattle and deer genetics and explore how these can be applied for the benefit of East Coast farmers.

"Our focus is to understand what farmers are trying to achieve, suggest what genetics can help and then assist them with the integration of those genetics into that system," said Foulsham.

"Visitors to the expo can expect to interact with our people who will talk about how the science has been applied and can be used in commercial farming operations; this is primarily in the form of rams, bulls and stags being used to inject new genetics into farms, flocks and herds.

"Farmers will be able to talk to Focus Genetics about their production goals and what genetic selections can be made to assist them in achieving those goals; and we might even have some lamb onsite to try."

While New Zealand sheep breeders, for example, have had access to genetic evaluation systems for 40 years, the field has developed immensely, says Focus Genetics' terminal sheep geneticist Dr Natalie Pickering. Initially evaluations were performed within a flock for a limited number of traits but since the late 1990s this has evolved to cross flock and breeds and with more production traits added.

The 21st century has a focus on genomics, says Pickering.

"Over the last 10 years, with the sequencing of cattle and sheep genomes, we have headed into the world of genomics – being able to estimate the breeding worth of an animal at birth from a DNA sample that is genotyped on a SNPchip and is screening the animal at hundreds of thousands of different points of the genome," she said.

"Previously traits would be researched for 10-20 years to understand the mode of inheritance, find mutations and develop gene tests, but nowadays we can sequence or SNPchip an animal in a matter of days, and gather measurements and DNA samples from the large animal resources held by breeders who want to be involved.

"This has meant that production traits can be predicted basically from birth, or as soon as a DNA sample is sent to a lab, and traits that had been previously thought of as too hard to investigate are now being tackled."

Pickering says what distinguishes the top 20% of the industry from the rest is the use of genetic information.

"For breeders, measuring animals and using the newest technologies in predicting the genetic merit of their animals so they can breed from the best is important," she says.

She says now they can correctly identify parentage by a DNA test; correctly measure animals by using electronic identification (EID); screen animals at hundreds of thousands of single points in their genomes; and use scientifically robust software, i.e. Sheep Improvement Limited or BreedPlan to estimate the breeding worth of animals, "meaning the next generations of livestock in the NZ industry is improving at greater rates than ever before".

And the future for the industry is looking bright.

"It is hard to think how the current technology for measuring an animal's performance can be improved, but there is no doubt that it will – if not in the ability to measure things we haven't before, it will in the accuracy of the current measurements," explains Pickering.

"Work on trying to increase twinning while reducing larger litters is a current project. But there will be many more traits we have not thought of as a problem or had the ability to tackle yet due to more pressing production traits.

"Plus we always need to look 10 years ahead as it takes time to measure, research and then implement the changes required in order for the improvements to reach the client or consumer and better their production or way of life."

Focus Genetics is a global company developing genetically superior sheep, cattle and deer.

The East Coast Farming with Technology Expo will be hosted at the Wairoa A & P Society Showgrounds on April 13 and 14, 2016.

Key points

· New technologies are available to all stud breeders in New Zealand

· The application of those technologies by breeders flows through to farmers

· Specific traits can be more accurately chased

· East Coast farmers should find a breeder who is chasing the traits important to them, and trust that the breeder and the technology will do the job.

• For more information, including how to register as an exhibitor, visit www.eastcoastexpo.co.nz