New Genetics Resource Opens for Beef and Sheep Farmers
NEW ZEALAND – A new entity of Beef and Lamb New Zealand that will push genetic advancement in the red meat sector has officially opened.Expected to receive NZ$44 million from farmers, ancillary industries and the government, Beef and Lamb New Zealand Genetics is expected to ‘power up’ the genetic gains of sheep and cattle.
This, according to general manager of the new branch Graham Alder, will help farms be ‘profitable and better matched to consumer demands’.
Mr Alder added that $15 million of government funding had been secured over the coming five years.
"We're on the eve of being able to access a whole new range of genetic tools and information that will take the sector to the next level,” said Dr Scott Champion, Beef and Lamb New Zealand chief executive.
“Importantly, B+LNZ Genetics brings together what were previously three separate parts of the business into an entity just focused on genetics; getting new genetic tools and services out to farmers, and then supporting them to use them in their farming businesses.”
Estimates put the overall benefit of the uptake of genetic investment at $845 million to sheep and beef over the next 20 years.
TheCattleSite News Desk