Angus and Hereford stud breeders are being encouraged to nominate sires for use in an innovative beef genetics programme.
The Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme is seeking bulls for the next mating season on Pamu’s Kepler farm near Te Anau.
The seven-year INZB partnership, supported by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) aims to boost the sector’s profits by $460 million.
It is focused on increasing the uptake of use of genetics in the beef industry. The four main components are building a genetic evaluation and data infrastructure, progeny test herds, developing breeding objectives and indexes and developing new data sources.
Anna Vaughan, B+LNZ’s Senior Genetics Operations Specialist says the Beef Progeny Test (BPT) allows breeds to be compared as well as bulls.
“It means B+LNZ can evaluate good bulls on the same level playing field while demonstrating the differences and similarities between the breeds as well as the benefits of hybrid vigour.
“The BPT is playing a critical role in creating a stronger future for New Zealand’s beef farmers and the industry.”
As part of re-prioritising its farm operations, Lochinver Station will be transitioning out of the programme and will not be mating this season. The Lochinver team will continue collecting measurements on 2023 and 2024-born progeny, as well as calves born this spring, ensuring valuable data is captured through to processing (excluding fertility traits, as heifers will remain unmated).
Breeders of bulls selected for use in the BPT will be provided with detailed information about the performance of their bull’s progeny including processing data (in the case of steers). Bull owners can nominate their bulls through the B+LNZ Genetics website.
Nominations close on Sunday 31 August.