BULLETIN As most of you are aware Greenlea is a partner in the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP). The RMPP is a primary growth partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries, and the ultimate goal of all the various projects within the programme is increased profit behind the farm gate. The other partners include ANZ, Rabobank, Beef + Lamb, Alliance, ANZCO, Silver Fern Farms, Blue Sky Meats, and Progressive. One of the projects is the creation of an electronic ASD. This online platform will allow suppliers to create and submit an ASD from anywhere via a computer, tablet or mobile. Smart technology will enable the system to “know” who you are when you log in, and therefore, enter relevant details such as your name and address. Obviously, a fully paperless system is years away as some areas have poor coverage. However, having an electronic option will be appealing to many. Greenlea has been hosting the first trial of this new system with several of our suppliers. Several of our suppliers are also involved with us in pilot programmes to test new methods and innovations. The pilots include projects around cropping programmes, software guided decision-making, comparisons of feeding regimes, and genetics. One of our pilot farms is profiled in this issue of the Bulletin.
ISSUE 11 : Autumn 2016 ISSUE 11 : Autumn 2016
Photo: Fairfax Media NZ/The Press Graham and Diana Smith are Greenlea suppliers who answered the call to join the Red Meat Profit Partnership pilot farm project last year. The various projects are intended to test new ideas, methods and technologies to drive greater production and profitability. The Smiths started bull farming on their 200 hectare Taniwha Farm about 10 years ago. They carry up to 450 Friesian bulls on their property and were early adopters of electronic ear tagging purely as a management tool. Both autumn and spring born bulls are brought in each year at 100 kgs. Graham has always been interested in the genetics of his dairy-originated animals. He has long hypothesised that a dairy bull that produces top quality daughters might also produce top quality sons for use in the bull beef industry. Using genetic data and meat quality data as well as management data collected by the Smiths, Graham’s ideas will be thoroughly tested. Optimal age and weight for slaughter as a function of meat quality will also be studied. Ultimately, the aim is to lift the value of bull meat through cooperation between the farmer and the processor.
Mark your calendar for June 15-18 and visit Greenlea at Fieldays! We will be in our same site as last year … F53 … and we will again be offering our popular midday beef tasting for the first 250 people through our green door. Our forequarter and hindquarter carcass breakdown demonstrations were also popular and will return this year. This year you can also have a peak in the fridge at the various cuts we offer both in New Zealand and overseas. See you there!
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