News

An increasing number of Otago and Canterbury dairy farmers are realising the value of DNA testing their calves to help them make better breeding decisions, according to local CRV sales consultant Deborah Adair-Dagg.

Taranaki sharemilkers Kurt and Katie-Rose Parry are breeding success. They are combining CRV sexed semen with genetics from their own Charolais stud to fast track their herds’ genetic gain and create high value dairy beef calves.

While CRV agrees with DairyNZ’s proposed national animal evaluation concept and the inclusion of genomics, it do not endorse the proposal as it stands.

As costs of production soar and cow numbers decline, more dairy farmers need to take advantage of the technologies available to identify the best animals to rear and mate and make sure they use their investments in livestock wisely.

As dry summers persist in the South Island, genetics could hold the answer to helping dairy farmers breed healthy cows that produce more milk from less feed.

From breeding high performing Charolais cattle in Ireland, Mark Whelan is now sharing his international breeding expertise with Matamata dairy farmers to help them breed better cows faster.