Since its launch, the on-line bull buying tool nProve Beef has proved popular, with Beef + Lamb New Zealand recording 589 user sessions per week between March and May.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Genetics Extension and Operations Manager, Sarah Powdrell, says the organisation has been very pleased with the response to nProve Beef, and its launch also helped raise awareness of nProve Sheep, with the number of users of the tool doubling on the same time last year.
“Between March and May last year we recorded 3620 individual users of nProve Sheep. This year, there were 6630 individual users over the same time period, 41% of which were using nProve Beef.”
She says what was most pleasing was the level of engagement with both tools, and on average, users spent over six minutes per session using either nProve Beef or nProve Sheep.
“Both tools are very user friendly, and we encourage people to go on and have a play. By moving the sliders around, users can find the genetics and breeders that meet their own breeding objectives.”
While the majority of users were using nProve Beef and nProve Sheep on their desktop computers, 46% were using them on their mobile phone.
“nProve Beef will really come into its own ahead of bull sales as it gives users the ability to use the tool on their phone to identify the bulls that meet their specific criteria.”
Included in the nProve Beef tool are the three NZ-designed breeding indexes; NZ$Maternal, NZ$Terminal and NZ$BeefxDairy.
Jason Archer, B+LNZ’s Head of Genetics, says the indexes were developed to take the complexity out of buying bulls.
“Farmers who only buy bulls once a year can be presented with up to 58 pieces of information about each bull which can be confusing.”
Archer says while the indexes present buyers with just one number, it is still useful to know the traits behind each index, hence the development of sub-indexes, or trait groupings. These help buyers understand what a particular bull is good at and include calving ease, maternal traits, finishing and carcase attributes.