62 | Major genetic improvement programme The farm has been working closely with MINDA throughout the process, with Te Wae Wae Dairies staff manually collecting DNA samples. Karen Phelps Te Wae Wae Dairies Ltd is embarking on a long-term genetic improvement programme that is expected to reshape breeding decisions, lift milk production and create new income opportunities, with DNA testing now completed across the herd. The 900-hectare Southland dairy business milks around 1,700 cows across two units. Owned by a syndicate and operated by FarmRight, the results of the DNA testing are now being integrated into MINDA to build a detailed genetic picture of the farm’s animals. Farm operations manager Andrew Hazlett says the project represents one of the most significant developments for the business and will provide information that will influence breeding decisions for years to come. “It will be five years before we get some good information that will enable us to change our breeding tactics as a result,” he explains. “There will be huge benefits out of doing this including breeding better cows that will produce better milk. Breeding Worth and Production Worth will also add value to both the herd and the farm.” The farm has been working closely with MINDA throughout the process, with Te Wae Wae Dairies staff manually collecting DNA samples before MINDA loads the information into the database. Young stock and rising heifers have also been included, allowing the business to track the genetic potential already coming through the system. The testing has also highlighted areas that needed attention in what had previously been an unrecorded herd. “There have been some duplicate cow numbers over the years, so we’ve been sorting out tags properly as part of the process,” explains Andrew. Every replacement heifer calf retained in future will also be DNA tested, steadily building an increasingly valuable database. “The heifer keeper calves born will get tested each year. The more information we collect, the more confident we can be in the decisions we make,” says Andrew. “Once we start doing herd tests each year that will give us even more information on production, cell count and other traits.” The data is also expected to transform mating decisions by identifying the highest and lowestperforming cows within the herd. “It opens up a lot of different avenues,” says Andrew. “If we pinpoint the bottom 20 percent of the herd for example, we RURAL PEOPLE » Te Wae Wae Dairies Ltd can look at using beef straws over those cows or run them with specific bulls to produce beef-cross calves instead of breeding dairy replacements.” That approach aligns with Fonterra’s encouragement for suppliers to reduce the number of bobby calves entering the industry and create stronger returns from calves better suited to beef finishing. It’s something the farm has already been having considerable success with selling 110 calves at around $100 per head last season and the target is more than 200 this year. “Word-of-mouth demand has helped build a returning customer base and I’ve been very proactive at spreading the word locally. I’ve got people knocking on my door looking for more Friesian and Hereford bulls for the beef market, so as many as we can produce I will be able to sell.” The genetic programme will go hand in hand with getting the basics right such as feeding. The farm works with a variety of companies, such as Menpes Contracting for its baleage programme, producing around 3,500–4,000 bales each year to help maintain high-quality supplementary feed and provide flexibility through seasonal feed BALING SPECIALISTS 027 222 0991 STOCK / BULK • FERTILISER • GRAVEL CONTRACTING • TRANSPORTING 03 225 5899 Pukemaori 0800 22 5899 admin@kingsrural.co.nz kingsrural.co.nz deficits. “We are aiming to produce an extra 30,000 kilograms of milksolids this season through optimal feeding, high-quality baleage and strong attention to detail across the system,” says Andrew. “Staff training has also been strengthened to support this. The focus is on doing things as best we can.”
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