Test to put value on good genetics

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics is launching a progeny test to put a dollar value on the extra profit that can be added to the dairy beef supply chain by using good beef genetics.

At its core, the four year test will calculate the additional value that can be added by using high genetic merit beef bulls rather than the unrecorded bulls traditionally used as ''follow on bulls'' in most New Zealand dairy systems.

Limestone Downs, near Port Waikato, is a high profile trust owned property covering 3200ha and wintering about 27,000 stock units.

It has a longstanding relationship with Massey University and is often used to trial research projects in a commercial setting. The operation converted 350ha to dairy milking two years ago and runs 610 Friesian cows and 190 heifers.

Beef + Lamb chief executive Scott Champion said the inclusion of dairy herd and dairy beef progeny in the tests was significant for both the dairy and beef sectors.

A 2015 analysis indicated there was up to $61 million worth of economic potential annually for the beef sector if better quality beef bulls were used over dairy cows.

''But we realise dairy farmers, calf rearers and beef finishers all need more information and/or financial incentives to change practices and value better quality young beef animals.

The hope is that adding a dairy beef component to this highly commercial test will provide robust, comparative information to help all parties recognise exactly what better genetics will add to their bottom lines.''

One of the project's objectives was to introduce a dairy beef genetic index to clearly quantify the economic benefit of recorded bulls, he said.

Limestone Downs manager Alf Harwood said dairy manager Aaron Frazer first raised the possibility of using beef bulls across the entire dairy herd instead of buying in dairy replacements.

''We are in a slightly unusual position in that we are the beef finisher and the dairy farmer. Without the need to breed replacements, all we need from our dairy herd is to get in calf and calve easily. Then, from a beef finishing perspective, for calves to grow as fast as possible.''

Limestone Downs sold the last of its 1300 Angus Hereford beef cow herd 17 years ago when the figures did not stack up and the system's lack of flexibility became frustrating, he said. The dairy industry had been the source of the beef stock ever since.

The dairy operation - including maize crops and dairy support for replacement heifers - occupied about 500ha in total. A move to buying in replacements on the open market ticked many of the boxes, Mr Harwood said.

Ninety four bulls would be used in total. The cows were being mated by AI to Angus and Hereford bulls that were either high merit, top performers within their breed for calving ease, gestation length and 400 day calf weight; or equivalent in genetic merit to the average commercial bulls available this year.

Heifers would run with Jersey, Angus and Hereford bulls. The Jersey bulls used would represent the breed average for liveweight, while the Angus and Hereford bulls would be of low birth weight and short gestation length.

Next season, when calves were on the ground, measurements would be made for gestation length, calving ease and birth weight. At processing, steers and heifers would be assessed on their carcass traits. The success rate of cows getting in calf again would also be recorded.

The test would involve two cohorts of calves, born in 2016 and 2017.

Dr Champion said while it was a stand alone progeny test, it would be genetically linked to the Beef + Lamb Genetics beef progeny test already under way on five large commercial properties throughout New Zealand but using selected sires across operations.

That would provide comparisons about how the bulls performed in two different systems.

 

 

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