Dairy power
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.
A global brand platform promoting New Zealand beef and lamb is going from strength to strength, says Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive Sam McIvor.
Speaking at B+LNZ annual meeting in New Plymouth today, McIvor says launched in 2019 and focused on conscious foodies in highest growth markets, ‘Taste Pure Nature’ stats speak for themselves.
Through partnering with a growing list of meat companies, Taste Pure Nature campaigns continue to grow awareness and aspiration to buy NZ grass-fed beef and lamb in the US and China, he says.
In the US, awareness of NZ’s unique farming practices now sits 19% higher than in 2019, aspiration to buy NZ grass-fed beef and lamb has increased by 18% and 10% respectively.
“In 2022 our paid media has reached over 116.9 million people, and our food truck has driven a real increase in sales,” he says.
“In China, NZ is now the most seen and heard country of origin for beef, recognised by 44% of consumers surveyed.”
Pure Box food vending machines have been introduced in China.
B+LNZ developed the recipes and then trialed the most desirable meals in the vending machines.
McIvor says more than 35 million consumers saw this promotion.
“We’re also now exploring the potential for these meals in supermarkets and convenience stores.
“Though the overall investment is small by global standards, Independent analysis has identified a 7.9:1 return for every B+LNZ dollar invested in Taste Pure Nature.”
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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