The value of genetic tools to the New Zealand beef sector
"While research undertaken for B+LNZ’s Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme has found increased uptake of the tools particularly around bull selling, we are still missing opportunities to put the tools into more farmers’ hands and use them more extensively".
Dr Archer says that is a lost opportunity for the industry, including around making better informed choices in selecting replacement heifers, purchasing weaners for finishing and greater use of artificial insemination (AI) for genetic improvement.
He encourages more farmers to take advantage of the information, extension, modules, workshops and Next Generation Farmer programmes provided by B+LNZ to better understand how genetics can fit into their farming systems.
"I think this represents a lost opportunity for the industry. Many commercial breeders are probably taking the approach 'my stud breeder uses these tools, so I don’t need to'.
"So, on the one day of the year they go to the bull sale, they are using them. But there is a lot more to genetic tools than bull selection. There are other genetic tools farmers could be using, such as genotyping to help with making better-informed choices in selecting replacement heifers.
"This predicts the overall merit and enables you to select the top percentage that you want to keep. Currently, a lot of farmers will select replacements by eye and go for the better-looking heifers. Those tend to be the older born but doing that visually will not necessarily get you the ones with the best genetics".
Dr Archer would also like to see more information about genetics and management practices provided with weaners at point of sale.
"When it comes to selling calves as weaners, someone else buys the calves and the breeders don’t get paid for making choices that end up with a better overall animal.
"So, the focus is on breeding heavy weaners but that isn’t recognising the value of improved practices to enhance performance later on. Examples of this include yard–wean calves, which is known to improve temperament and performance, or breeding using higher intra-muscular fat genetics which will produce higher marbling levels when eventually processed.
"Having that genetic information traced through the system and going up and down the value chain would be of value. Breeders would be better able to value the calves for sale and finishers could use it to buy better quality animals".
AI also offers potential for genetic improvement through using top-quality bulls with desirable traits more widely.
"AI isn’t routinely used in the New Zealand beef sector", says Dr Archer.
"That’s largely because of the extensive nature of beef farming with cattle spread over large areas, a long way from yards.
"There are constraints but there are also opportunities. It doesn’t have to be the entire cow herd. For instance, an issue with heifers is their first calf. The bull has a big influence on calving ease, so using genetics from proven easy calving bulls would have value for heifers.
"When farmers buy a bull, they are typically looking for one for heifer mating. But after a few years they get physically too big for that so people start using them over their cow herd and then you are sacrificing some growth potential of your calves".
INZB is a seven-year Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures partnership supported by the Ministry for Primary Industries, B+LNZ and the New Zealand Meat Board.
The programme, which aims to boost the sector’s profits by $460m over the next 25 years, includes developing tools to enable commercial farmers to select the right genetics quickly and easily for their farm system and environment.
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