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Angus and Hereford stud breeders are being encouraged to nominate sires for use in a beef genetics programme.
The Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme is seeking bulls for the next mating season on Pamū’s Kepler farm near Te Anau.
The seven-year INZB partnership, supported by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), aims to boost the sector’s profits by $460 million.
It is focused on increasing the uptake of 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.
Anna Vaughan, BLNZ’s senior genetics operations specialist, said the Beef Progeny Test (BPT) allows breeds to be compared as well as bulls.
“It means BLNZ can evaluate good bulls on the same level playing field while demonstrating the differences and similarities between the breeds as well as the benefits of hybrid vigour.
“The BPT is playing a critical role in creating a stronger future for New Zealand’s beef farmers and the industry.”
Bull owners can nominate their bulls through the BLNZ Genetics website.
Nominations close on Sunday August 31.