Collaboration needed to lift genetic gain

Lifting genetic gain in the New Zealand dairy industry has been a hot topic over the past
year. Adding fresh fuel to discussions is an independent Industry Working Group (IWG) report, released in July, which describes New Zealand’s current system for genetic gain as “not fit-for purpose”.

The report includes detailed recommendations on how to turn this around by strengthening the role and impact of the National Breeding Objective (NBO), improving phenotypic data quality collected from commercial dairy herds, and creating an environment that encourages and supports breeding companies and others to use genomic technologies to make genetic gain as fast as possible.

It pinpoints NZ Animal Evaluation Ltd (NZAEL), LIC and CRV as key parties that will need to collaborate on leading forward progress.

Challenging that leadership focus is a growing group of dairy farmer breeders, who set up their own company called Matriarch Genetics Ltd in 2020 out of frustration with the status quo around how bull genetics companies operate. Now, Matriarch Genetics Director Philip Brewster is chairing a newly launched Genetic Stakeholder Group, whose members include breed associations, Federated Farmers and other AB companies. This new group is seeking greater clarity and transparency on how the report’s recommendations are going to be implemented, as well as seeking direct representation alongside NZAEL, LIC and CRV.

“We request the opportunity to be represented in any discussions going forward to provide the perspective needed at the decision-making table to find the solution that will benefit all parties involved, regardless of their market share or size,” writes Philip, as group chair, in an August letter to the Industry Working Group. Matriarch Genetics Ltd is itself run under a cooperative model and has around 50 breeders from all over New Zealand, representing the predominant dairy breeds. Philip says that having their own company removes IP constraints between members, facilitating genetic transfer and enabling genomic information to be freely shared. Matriarch Genetics works alongside STgenetics to manage the marketing and distribution of Matriarch bulls.

“We’re almost like a union for bull breeders, advocating for a better deal – having IP on our own bulls is helping us to achieve not only genetic gain but also better returns for our bull breeders.” Their 2024 bull team has had good success and Philip says that’s off the back of a very strong Friesian team, aligning well with ST Genetics’ existing clientele. “We’ve got sons of Icarus [a leading overseas Friesian stud bull] and our members used his semen heavily in their herds.” Philip is a leading Jersey specialist. His parents, Murray and Angela Brewster, established Little River Jerseys in 1999 and built the Thames Valley herd from proven cow families and only breeding from the top cows. Philip and wife Janna moved to the home farm in 2006 and purchased the herd in 2017. He and his parents, who work the farm together, are thrilled with the results of their ongoing breeding strategy. “We’ve got two of our quality Jersey sires in this year’s Matriarch team – Tracker and Jimmy – and three bulls on the Jersey RAS list – Little River Nucleus, along with Trident and Ol Samurai. We enjoy sharing the genetics we love at the annual Thames Valley Bull Sale.”

Written by Kim Newth