Regular monitoring of worm levels in lambs is essential
Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s wormwise programme manager Dr Ginny Dodunski offers advice on preweaning lamb management and factors to consider before giving a pre-weaning drench.
Climate change and water quality are two issues the sheep and beef industry has yet to nail, says Beef + Lamb NZ chairman, Andrew Morrison.
Speaking to Rural News last week at the Red Meat Sector conference in Napier, he said health and safety was a big issue 12-18 months ago but the industry has moved on from this and is working through these other issues.
“We really want to get the water quality and climate change issues sorted,” Morrison says. “We are working out what tools we can set up to help change the behaviour of people on these issues; not regulation so much as how we can structure policy that gets the necessary outcomes.”
The conference heard a lot about the need for NZ to focus on the growing and changing demands of modern consumers, especially in wealthy markets. But Morrison believes these consumers’ demands are no different from what Kiwis expect from this country’s production systems.
“So we need to demonstrate to consumers – and NZers – that they have every reason to feel comfortable with our production systems and the proteins we produce.
“We also must demonstrate that we are handling climate change, water quality and animal welfare to a high standard, which should alleviate any concerns they have.”
Morrison says the conference in Napier was excellent and it was good to see unity between farmers and processors. He saw the conference helping to unify the industry.
“Farming doesn’t end at the mailbox and excellence in processing doesn’t start at the mailbox, so we must work together to help create products that add value all the way through the system.”
Andrew Morrison says BLNZ and MIA are working well together -- they recently held a joint strategy day -- and have spent a lot of time working with the new government.
“It’s exciting times; everyone talks about challenges and disruptions, but these are opportunities,” he says.
A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.
Free workshops focused on managing risk in sharefarming got underway last week.
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.
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