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The early response to the nProve Beef online genetics tool launched earlier this year is a milestone to celebrate, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand genetics extension and operations manager Sarah Powdrell.
Addressing a BLNZ directors meeting in Ashburton, Powdrell said the industry collaboration is bringing data from multiple breed societies together to present valuable information in a practical, farmer-friendly format.
This collaboration between BLNZ and breed societies was recently recognised as a finalist in the team and collaboration category of the 2025 Primary Industries NZ Awards.
Genetics and data are complex, and tackling them in isolation simply won’t deliver the best outcomes, Powdrell said.
Unlocking the potential of beef farming in NZ depends on everyone industry-wide working together, from breeders and farmers to researchers and evaluation providers.
“No one organisation can solve these challenges alone. It takes shared purpose and a willingness to take a few risks for the greater good.
“The decision by breed societies and their members to share their data through nProve wasn’t taken lightly, but they saw the bigger picture – that, by bringing information together, we can unlock more of the power of genetic improvement for the whole industry.”
A key to building this successful collaboration is spending time understanding each other while examining what global competitors are doing.
Members of BLNZ’s genetics team travelled with representatives from leading NZ beef organisations to the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium and Convention in Canada.
The key message was clear: collaboration drives progress, and the real competition isn’t the breeder down the road; it’s global.
Stud breeders overseas are advancing at pace, and unless NZ works together, it risks falling behind.
Every part of the beef value chain has a role to play. Stud breeders need to be thinking now about the traits that will matter most in a decade’s time and start breeding for them today.
Farmers need to make the most of the tools available to select bulls that will deliver better performance in their systems.
“nProve Beef has been built with that in mind. By working with breed organisations willing to share herd data and commercial farmers, we’ve created a platform that allows users to tailor their bull selection to their unique needs, easily and efficiently.
“And people are using it. Not just browsing but actively engaging. That tells us farmers are hungry for good information to back up their decision-making.”
nProve includes NZ-designed beef breeding indexes to help farmers select bulls that align with their breeding goals, whether they’re focused on replacements, finishing or supplying genetics into the dairy beef system.
The indexes built by BLNZ and AbacusBio use NZ farm and market data to give farmers the best information for their bull buying decisions.
“Over a farming career, you might get 30 chances to make a genetic decision, and those decisions are among the most important you’ll ever make for your business. They shape your herd for years to come.”
Genetic gains are a slow burn but getting it right can have enormous pay-off, with reports that in the past 25 years, genetic progress in NZ and Australian beef has created $11 billion of value.