New Zealand’s Vitamin B12 Deficiency
New Zealand farms have been aware of B12 deficiency for almost 130 years. “Bush sickness” as it was first known was identified in the Bay of Plenty in 1893. Due … Read more
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Weekly Genetics Review: Collecting the data to inform your culling strategies
Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 01/11/2022 EFFECTIVE management of a commercial breeder herd relies on objective data. Selection decisions and the pressure that can be placed on traits to achieve specific … Read more
Weekly Genetics Review: Don’t just rely on correlations for your EBVs
Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 27/09/2022 THE process of developing Estimated Breeding Values for a breed or even for a new operation within a breed requires a degree of commitment, if … Read more
Weekly Genetics Review: Watch your feet – assessing bulls ahead of a sale
Beef Central Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 20/09/2022 SPENDING time assessing the feet and leg structure of bulls ahead of sale can be one of the most effective long-term investments into … Read more
What I learnt from the best beef farmers who were going nowhere.
They had their animal health plan from their vet, environmental plan from their fert rep, budget from their accountant and maybe a succession plan from a consultant. But their breeding … Read more
AngusNZ Australia trip
August 30th August to September 3rd Tour members: Mike Smith, Jeremy Gunton, Rob Sherson, Jane Allan (report author) Day 1 Breakfast at 6.30am with Jeremy/Carman Cooper from Circle 8 in … Read more
Choosing your Bull Source
CHOOSING your bull source (BS) is a critical decision for commercial cattle producers. How do you source superior genetics that will improve herd profitability? This raises the question of how … Read more
Industry benefits from superior beef genetics
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics Using genetically superior beef bulls across dairy herds will help create greater value right along the dairy beef supply chain. This was one of … Read more
Why do cows need magnesium
By Dave Warburton Mg is very “busy” stuff working hard inside the cow. Mg is needed by the cow for involvement in the activity of 300 + or more enzymes … Read more
Which way to swipe? The challenges of using photos in bull selection
by Alastair Rayner At a recent bull selection workshop I attended, a participant told me that looking at photos of sale bulls was often like “looking at pictures on Tinder”. … Read more
Ten hints to improve your stud stock photography By Alastair Rayner
WHILE there are many professional livestock/stud stock photographers who do an excellent job, many bull breeders either choose to, or by necessity have to take their own stud stock photos, … Read more
Cow weaning rate & its impact on production costs
Beef Central Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 02/08/2022 FARM profitability is determined by multiple factors. In a beef breeding business, factors such as survival and growth of calves through to sale … Read more