Commercial beef farmers turning to genetic tools

Informing New Zealand Beef programme manager Gemma Jenkins.

More and more bull breeders have been using genetic tools, according to the latest research for the Beef + Lamb New Zealand-funded Informing New Zealand Beef programme (INZB).

According to the survey, one in five commercial beef farmers now use artificial insemination and more than three-quarters of commercial farmers (77 percent) buy bulls from breeders that use genetic tools — tools like Estimated Breeding Values, Breeding Indexes, artificial insemination, genomics and/or embryo transfer.

INZB programme manager Gemma Jenkins said it was encouraging to “see a rise in the understanding of the numbers and science behind beef genetics, and the ability to apply the genetic processes on farm, and a continued belief in the use of genetics”.

“This is the third year we have undertaken the survey and it’s evident that the industry is making progress.

“Breeders in particular are confidently using genetic tools,” she said.

“Ninety-nine percent of breeders surveyed are using genetic tools and the usage has grown significantly across nearly all types of genetic tools compared to 2021 and 2022.

“Ninety percent of trusted professionals and breeders are also encouraging farmers to use superior genetics. There has also been a significant increase in the number of farmers using artificial insemination, up from 11 percent to 20 percent since 2021.

“This is interesting and we’re going to explore more about why we have seen this change,” Ms Jenkins said.

“A significant majority of the farmers responding to the survey also want to be able to compare bulls across breeds.”

■  The seven-year INZB partnership, supported by B+LNZ, the Ministry for Primary Industries  and the New Zealand Meat Board, aims to boost the sector’s profits by $460m over the next 25 years.

It is focused on increasing the 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.

The industry survey tracks changes in industry attitudes and behaviours towards beef genetics over time. An analysis of the findings and suggestions from respondents will help inform the programme.

There were 336 responses to the survey including 187 commercial farmers, 112 bull breeders and 37 influencers.