Page 10 - Hereford Magazine 2022

From the
general manager

NZ Herefords beat Angus at their own game
With few things to sing about having had another disruptive year thanks
to the global pandemic, we were thrilled with the latest B+LNZ Genetics
Beef Progeny Test results.
The beef progeny tests have been running since 2014 and are designed
to compare bulls under New Zealand’s commercial farming conditions.
A panel selects the best bulls from those nominated for each breed – a
mix of both internationally sourced and New Zealand semen is used.
Steers and cull heifers are assessed on their carcass traits while
replacement heifers are tracked for their maternal characteristics. For a
Hereford bull, Limehills Streaker 150368, to be ranked first for IMF and
another, Orari Gorge Patton 150051, ranked first for eye muscle area,
third for rib fat and second for IMF, plus Ardo Ajax ranking second for eye
muscle area, highlights how well New Zealand breeders are selecting for
carcass traits. The genetic trend graph confirms NZ Herefords’ overall trend
is a gradual increase in IMF, with a greater increase in eye muscle area.
Breed adoption of SNP genotype testing
Another success story for the breed, despite a slower SNP DNA service
due to Covid disrupting mail services, is that our breeders are embracing
technology, with more studs genotyping either their whole herds or
selecting a year-born group.
As the graph depicts, NZ Herefords breeders have transitioned from
microsatellite DNA testing in 2019, to SNP DNA testing in 2021, with
the majority requesting the NZ Hereford bundle that includes 100K
SNP DNA panel, horn poll and genetic conditions testing along with
parent verification.

Igenity
Igenity is the commercial SNP testing service offered by PBB for farmers
who wish to SNP DNA test and compare in-herd performance of their
animals. NZ Herefords, at the time of print, is trialling the process and
is in discussion with PBB to ensure all parties benefit (including the
paying commercial farmers) by offering this service. This will be the first
SNP DNA testing option available for commercial Hereford farmers, one
the NZ Herefords council has predicted will be a future requirement for
many NZ Herefords breeders’ clients.

Live exports to China
Exporting livestock contributes to New Zealand’s economy and is valued
by our trading partners, however this year the New Zealand government
declared they would stop live exports in April 2023. While NZ Herefords
is only one link in the chain, we know the heifers are managed under the
Codes of Welfare published by the New Zealand National Animal Welfare
Advisory Committee (NAWAC) and we played our part in the process
during 2021 by inspecting and providing certificates for nearly 8000
category 2 Hereford heifers exported to China.
While NZ Herefords does not take a particular view on live exports, it is
an additional market for our members.

NZ HEREFORDS HEREFORD PRIME NZ
PRESIDENT Gray Pannett ........................................pannetts@xtra.co.nz CHAIRMAN Laurie Paterson..........................paterson@farmside.co.nz
VICE PRESIDENT Robert Peacock ........................... robert@orarigorge.co.nz VICE CHAIRMAN Geof Brown .............................locharburn@farmside.co.nz
TREASURER Colin Corney ......................colraine.herefords@xtra.co.nz TREASURER Chris Douglas ..................................monymusk@xtra.co.nz
GENERAL MANAGER Posy Moody ............................... manager@herefords.co.nz BRAND MANAGER Natalie Campbell ..................herefordprime@pbbnz.com
8 HEREFORD MAGAZINE Year 2022