Guest speaker Blair Nelson who, along with his wife Anna, farms 1,100ha of hill country in the King Country.  The couple were Beef + Lamb New Zealand Innovation Farmers and sought to lift profitability on their cultivable land by $200/ha. Focusing on specialist forages, they generated average post-weaning lamb growth rates of 240 g/day.  While primarily used for lambs, this feed was also used for growing out hoggets and had a profound effect on their farm system. They believe that this focus on feeding sets the potential for the life-time performance.

High performing forages to drive profitability

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The Beef Progeny Test was a 5-year project run by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Genetics, comparing bulls under commercial farming conditions. B+LNZ Genetics has been analysing the dataset collected from those farms to identify valuable insights for stud breeders and commercial farmers. In this podcast, Jason Archer, Livestock Genetics Specialist at B+LNZ Genetics, delves into some of the insights on measuring and predicting finishing performance in beef cattle.
Discussion explores the important role of 'subcutaneous fat', which is measured through rib fat depth, and 'intramuscular fat' also known as marbling, as well as the relationship between these traits. Jason also discusses different tools used to improve carcass traits – such as estimated breeding values (EBVs) and ultrasound scanning – and how effective they are at predicting marbling and rib fat depth within a carcass.
Useful links:
Read more (and see the graphs referred to in this podcast) on the B+LNZ Genetics Beef Progeny Test Results page: https://www.blnzgenetics.com/beef-progeny-test-results
Watch a video of Jason discussing these traits at a recent Beef Progeny Test field day: https://youtu.be/B9yhj1k6o9s?si=SI9pCx9cSusjG9_A&t=4703
B+LNZ’s Informing New Zealand Beef website:  www.blnzgenetics.com/informing-nz-beef

Fine-tuning finishing performance in beef cattle: outcomes from Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics’ Beef Progeny Test

Shepherdess is a more than a women’s magazine. It captures everyday life and extraordinary stories and is documenting the things that matter to communities across provincial Aotearoa. From the women, for the land. We are joined by Kristy McGregor, Publisher and Editor-In-Chief, who dives into all of the corners of the venture that started back in 2019. 
This podcast was recorded in February 2024.

Shepherdess: more than a magazine

Farmers can reap many benefits by participating in New Zealand’s national Open Farm Day, set for Sunday, 10 March 2024. We talk with Open Farms founder Daniel Eb about the overwhelmingly positive feedback received from farmer hosts and why a significant number of hosts return each year to be part of the initiative.
Daniel dives into the many benefits for farmers – direct and indirect – and how it is much more manageable than farmers might anticipate.
B+LNZ encourages you to consider hosting an event. Research shows that firsthand experiences are unmatched when it comes to creating better understanding with urban folk.
If you’re considering hosting an Open Farms Day, visit the official website here.

Farmers benefit from hosting an Open Farms Day: Daniel Eb

Recorded on a Beef + Lamb New Zealand webinar. Dr. Ty Beal is a well-recognised expert on global food systems, and the impact of dietary patterns on human health and the environment. Through an evidence-based approach, Dr. Beal presents a balanced view for the role of animal sourced foods (with a focus on red meat) in sustainable global diets.
View the presentation with Dr. Beal’s slides on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTb288eHv6c

Animal Sourced Foods in Healthy and Sustainable Diets: Dr. Ty Beal, Research Advisor for the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition

In the sixth Beef + Lamb New Zealand ‘Parasite Chronicles’ podcast, Sarah Perriam-Lampp talks with Carlos Segura about how and why he is reducing drench inputs in his farm system. Carlos manages sheep and beef on Manunui Station, in Taumarunui and was part of a B+LNZ Research funded study, carried out by Massey University, to understand how and why farmers are already farming with less drench.

High performing forages to drive profitability

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