Simon Wilson is measuring the merit of genetic rankings in a trial at Mt Herbert Station. Photo / Paul Taylor
A trial to prove genetic potential is a superior indicator of ram performance than paddock assessment has had its second field day at Simon Wilson's Mt Herbert Station in Waipukurau.
Data Drives Dollars is a joint project between Massey University and Focus Genetics that aims to find out if there is a financial advantage in buying rams with high genetic rankings.
Running over the lambing season, it involves two farmer working groups overseeing the experiment, at Mt Herbert and tertiary institute Taratahi's Glenside Station near Carterton.
Two teams of rams -- one of high and one of low genetic merit -- are run over 500 mixed-aged ewes on each farm, the rams selected based on estimated breeding values (EBVs) for live weight at eight months of age.
Values are ranked by Beef+Lamb New Zealand's SIL, an industry-wide tool measuring genetic merit.
Ewes and their lambs will be managed in a single flock on each farm throughout the experiment to give lambs equal opportunity to grow, with weight gains measured periodically.
"The selection of rams is very important and a lot more people are going for figures, combined with what they look like," Wilson says.
"Hopefully, the trial will demonstrate that higher-ranked rams can produce more kilograms of meat."
The practice of selecting higher-ranked breeding animals is common in other meat sectors, but has been little studied in sheep.
Ewes are mostly "just commercially farmed", unranked and chosen for their bodyweight, he says. Wilson does not expect to experience a loss from the trial's lower-ranked rams covering his flock.
"They could well be better than the ones that I use on the farm anyway."
Weaning will take place shortly before Christmas, with final results available early next year.
"Hopefully, it will make more farmers aware of the benefits you can gain by buying higher-indexed rams with higher breeding values."
In the other trial location, Wairarapa coastal farmer Kurt Portas wants to see if he should be doing more homework when selecting rams.
"It's tricky buying rams when you're spoilt for choice," he says.
"It would be handy to know exactly what questions I should be asking, or the information I should be looking at, to get the right fit for the farm.
"Everyone talks about the significance of the EBVs but, until it's proven, you are going on assumptions. It's a good thing to look at and farmers will be interested in the outcome."
Wairarapa farmer Willie Tatham is confident the project will show he is on the money by using EBVs to buy rams.
"What's good about this project is we're looking at teams of rams," he says.
"This is a good basic starting point and, personally, if the trial goes well and we keep learning, I would be keen to see it expanded and perhaps look at the maternal side as a follow-up."
Bulls on noticeHolstein Friesian New Zealand and CRV Ambreed will team up again this year to select New Zealand's next generation of top Holstein Friesian bulls for their joint sire proving programme, Holstein Friesian Genetic Leaders.
Recently celebrating 20 years, the joint venture was set up to source, prove and sell high-merit genetics in New Zealand's Holstein Friesian population and has helped advance and develop the breed since.
With calving season set to kick off soon, about 150 young bull calves will be nominated for the Holstein Friesian Genetic Leaders programme and put forward to a committee of Holstein Friesian New Zealand councillors and CRV Ambreed breeding experts to be considered for the scheme.
Up to 10 bulls will be selected for the programme, based on how they can support the future conditions of New Zealand dairy farming, their capacity to increase efficiency and production, and how they suit the different types of farming systems farmers use throughout the country.
Niwa's new toolsThe National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research has developed new tools to help farmers decide when to irrigate or fertilise. But it needs farmers to test out the tools to ensure they are as practical and easy to use as possible.
The first new tool is Niwa IrriMet and it follows the successful launch of FarmMet at last year's Fieldays.
FarmMet is a tailored weather forecasting tool that provides accurate up-to-date forecasts specific to individual properties.
It works by capturing data from climate stations closest to the individual farm and using that to tailor a forecast delivered straight to the farmer's computer.
IrriMet also taps into this same data, which is fed in real time to Niwa's supercomputer and combined with high-resolution weather forecasts and soil information to generate a six-day prediction of soil moisture and leaching potential. It tells farmers when and by how much to irrigate, what the leaching potential is and how overall growth is tracking.
Dr Jochen Schmidt, Niwa's chief scientist environmental information, says: "We've got the science sorted and we're now up to working out the best way to translate it into information that will help farmers make better operational decisions.
"We're looking for farmers from all around New Zealand who irrigate their properties. What we need is help and feedback on our trial product -- particularly on how the information is presented."
Dr Schmidt says farmers shouldn't have to rely on guesswork when scheduling irrigation.
Extensive research has gone into finding out what weather and soil moisture information is of most benefit to enable them to plan effectively and the next stage was presenting it in the most user-friendly way possible.
"The potential benefits are huge," Dr Schmidt says.
"Farmers can reduce power, maintenance and operational costs, and, if water isn't needed, it can be left where it is or reallocated."
Niwa is also keen to talk to farmers whose farms are located in a gap in Niwa's weather and soil moisture monitoring network to discuss installing Niwa IrriMet stations on their properties.
Data from the stations would be fed into Niwa's national database and be available online.
Free access to the trial version of Niwa's second new tool, a pasture growth forecaster, was also offered at the recent Fieldays.
"This is all about putting information at farmers' fingertips to help them maximise farm profit. That's why it's vital that we get their input on our design and development," Dr Schmidt says.
Moynihan takes charge at RabobankRabobank New Zealand has announced the appointment of Hayley Moynihan as general manager country banking.
Subject to regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, she will commence in the role next month.
Reporting to Rabobank New Zealand chief executive officer Ben Russell, the general manager country banking will be responsible for leadership of Rabobank's rural banking business throughout New Zealand.
Russell said Moynihan -- who has worked for Rabobank New Zealand for the past 10 years in its Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory Division, most recently as director of dairy research, New Zealand and Asia -- was a "highly credentialled career agribanker, who has a deep understanding of New Zealand's agricultural industries and its farm businesses as well as the wider global market".
"She has already made a significant contribution to Rabobank New Zealand and our clients through her highly respected insights on the dairy industry and the wider food sector in New Zealand and internationally.
"She will bring significant experience, knowledge and an innovative approach to our core rural banking franchise.".
They allege the Crown ignored Treaty obligations by not engaging with them.