May 28, 2018
Launched in May 2018, the new strategy is a significant milestone for our sheep and beef industry. The strategy has 4 pillars – Cleaner water; Carbon neutral; Thriving biodiversity and Healthy productive soils.
Julia Beijeman, Environment Strategy Manager, joins us to discuss what each means, how they will be measured, how they will be achieved, and why they are our focus.
To download the strategy and implementation plan, visit: https://beeflambnz.com/environment-strategy. To download information about B+LNZ's nutrient allocation principles click here.
Call the team on 0800 BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352) for more information.
May 15, 2018
Based on his speech to B+LNZ’s AGM in March 2018, CEO Sam McIvor outlines our priorities for the coming years, including an increased focus on our Environment Strategy, the challenge of alternative proteins, the development of the NZ Red Meat Story and how we will do our day to day activities better.
For more information, visit www.beeflambnz.com, or contact Sam on sam.mcivor@beeflambnz.com and 021 828 170.
April 10, 2018
Movement of cattle between farms is the highest risk for spread of Mycoplasma bovis, and winter grazing of dairy cattle therefore poses particular challenges.
Richard Laven is Associate Professor in Production Animal Health at Massey University, and was the person who first recognised that Mycoplasma bovis was likely present in New Zealand. He joins us to explain how the disease spreads, the precautions graziers and owners can take to further reduce the low risk of spreading the disease, and what farmers should be doing as good biosecurity management practice anyway.
For more details, click here to download the Beef + Lamb New Zealand/DairyNZ information for graziers factsheet.
March 8, 2018
Getting better calves from your cows involves getting the right breeder, selecting the right bull both on figures and on what you can see, then looking after that bull and making sure he can do his job. Max Tweedie, National Beef Genetics Manager at Beef + Lamb Genetics, joins us to talk about what the figures mean, how to use them, what to look for in a bull, and how to keep him performing at his best.
To view the B+LNZ Genetics bull selection tools, visit: http://www.blnzgenetics.com/bull-selection-tools
For a hard copy of the booklet containing the information discussed, email resources@beeflambnz.com – or to find out about Better Beef Breeding workshops in your area, contact your local B+LNZ Extension Manager at https://beeflambnz.com/contact-us
November 24, 2017
Beef + Lamb New Zealand provides funding to Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics so that New Zealand ram breeders have the best tools at their disposal, and sheep farmers benefit from rapid and effective genetic gain. On this podcast, National Sheep Genetics Manager, Annie O’Connell, discusses some recent advances in the information available to help choose rams, and how farmers can make the best use of it.
More information on the maternal and terminal indexes we discuss can be found at www.ramindex.co.nz, the ram buyer guide is downloadable at bit.ly/Ram-Buying-Guide and check out the B+LNZ Genetics website here: www.blnzgenetics.com
November 15, 2017
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is seeking farmers’ support for us to join other primary sector groups in signing the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response Deed (GIA). On this podcast, Dave Harrison, B+LNZ’s General Manager Policy and Advocacy, and Chris Houston, Manager – Technical Policy, discuss the benefits of signing the GIA, the increased certainty and control over our own biosecurity destiny it will bring, and how this justifies potential costs. Plus, they explain what those costs could be.
To download a copy of B+LNZ’s Drystock Biosecurity Guidelines, which outline good management practice on farm, visit: www.beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/drystock-biosecurity-guidelines
September 25, 2017
Steve Wyn-Harris is well known in farming circles in New Zealand, with his weekly newspaper column, speaking engagements and radio show. For a change he is the subject of an interview, and we are discussing his thoughts and lessons learned about farming successfully. Steve is an entertaining speaker and writer, and at the same time achieving very high levels of performance and personal satisfaction from running a family farm (a version of the Farm Profit distribution graph Steve refers to can be seen here: http://www.rmpp.co.nz/page/about/)
August 24, 2017
Lambing hoggets can be an effective way to increase flock productivity and profit – if it is done well, and in the right circumstances. Professor Paul Kenyon is Head of the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences at Massey University and has led research into successful hogget lambing for over 15 years. He joined us on the call to share what he has learned. For more details, check out Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s guide to hogget lambing at www.beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/PDF/hogget-performance
August 22, 2017
Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Chair and Farmer Director for Northern North Island James Parsons joins us to give an outline of B+LNZ’s refreshed strategy, and proposed priorities for the future. For more details, and to give your feedback, head to www.beeflambnz.com/consultation
