Dairy Farmers are being encouraged to discover more about what is being touted as the biggest advancement in bovine genetics in 50 years, expected to add $1.9 to $3.9 billion to the sector over the next 20 years.

Livestock Improvement (LIC) says its DNA Proven semen – the ability to identify elite artificial breeding sires from their DNA, years before ‘conventional’ methods of daughter proving – will change dairying forever.

Federated Farmers Dairy section chairman Frank Brenmuhl told Dairying Today the announcement seems really exciting and is evidence of the time and investment the industry is spending on discovering new ways forward.

‘There has been a lot of investment – through time and money going into this – and now it’s hopefully payback time for New Zealand farmers to benefit,’ says Brenmuhl.

He suggests farmers should try to get to the LIC road shows this month to gain a greater understanding of what this means for them, and thinks they will be pleasantly surprised.

Genetic gain through breeding has always been long term, but this will allow herd advancement to move faster than it would have otherwise, says Brenmuhl.

‘It’s going to take a little time fore people to understand and I’m looking forward to seeing the results.’

LIC chief executive officer Mark Dewdney says the ability to identify elite artificial breeding sires from their DNA puts money in farmers’ pockets, and accelerates the rate of genetic gain enjoyed by the New Zealand dairy industry.

LIC says the cumulative, permanent effect of genetic gain will bring additional profit of $500,000 to the average 450-cow farm (in today’s dollars) over 24 years.

‘The faster genetic gain means more productive, fertile dairy cows, more on-farm profit – all without farmers having to do anything different,’ says Dewdney.

He says it marks a giant step forward for the industry, translating to between $1.9b and $3.9b in additional profit over the next 20 years.

LIC is the New Zealand’s largest genetics company, with its elite bulls siring 80% of the nation’s dairy cows.

Brenmuhl says this advancement demonstrates how New Zealand holds its position as a world leader in agriculture.

‘It is another example of agriculture companies looking to improve the way we do business and make advances.’

The investment was made on a vision and idea, and this result is payback for the people who had the foresight to make that investment, he says.

LIC will be talking with farmers at road shows around the country from April 28 to May 8.

Details: see www.lic.co.nz