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DAIRY PEOPLE: John & Wendy Allen
NZ Dairy / Summer 2014
Breeding goals recognised Sue Russell Lightburn Holsteins has produced its best bull yet – Lightburn Fireraze-ET S2F has been ranked 12th in New Zealand by New Zealand Animal Evaluation Ltd. Stud owner John Allen says it’s proof that the stud is heading in the right direction after just seven years of breeding bulls for AB companies. “We’re very pleased that our breeding goals are being recognised as breeding good stock for the national breeding objective.” He is continuing to use multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) technology extensively. In his 2013 calving, 85 calves born from embryo transfer resulted in a total of 100 calves bred from his top 20 animals. He has also dabbled with less success in transvaginal recovery (TVR) technology on yearlings as part of the Discovery Project, a joint venture between the Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) and the New Zealand Holstein Friesian Association. TVR involves inserting a needle into the ovary to remove oocytes, which are then fertilised in a test tube before being implanted back into recipient cows. With MOET, hormones are used to mature the eggs inside the cow, which is then artificially mated. The embryos are flushed out a week later and implanted in a number of cows. TVR would give Allen the ability to get more progeny from his yearlings. He had two heifers in the Discovery Project, but obtained just five embryos from one of them, which he considers a poor result. Thirty-seven heifers took part in the 10week project, and other farmers had more success. As part of the Discovery committee, he will be assessing the results and looking for answers as to why some heifers produced good numbers of embryos and others performed poorly. Allen and wife Wendy farm 247 hectares at Kairanga, near Palmerston North, on which they sharemilk 720 cows. Their herd breeding worth of 123 is in the top 5% in New Zealand for holstein friesians; the herd’s production worth is 143.
The value we are putting on cows now is affecting the type of cows we breed for the future.
Lightburn Holsteins’ Lightburn Fireaze-ET S2F has been ranked 12th in New Zealand by New Zealand Animal Evaluation Ltd. The Allen herd’s average protein-to-fat ratio of the milk was 85% last season when the Fonterra average is around 76%. The herd produced around 400 kilograms of milksolids per cow even in the drought. The farm’s bulls have also been popular. Twentyseven are being genomically tested by LIC,15 by CRV Ambreed and two by Liberty Genetics. Allen, who is also a NZ Holstein Friesian Association councillor for the lower North Island, is vocal about the importance of good breeding for the industry and is involved with the discussions around the National Breeding Objective. “The values we are putting on cows now is affecting the type of cows we breed for the future. We need to get it right now to ensure that in the future we are breeding the right type of cows.” The Allens have just installed 5.5 kilometres of new water lines and troughs on their farm and will put in an additional 15 kilometres to complete the project. The couple have their sights firmly set on owning their own farm and are keeping their eyes peeled for the perfect property.
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NZ youth breaks new ground Fifteen aspiring young breeders came together for New Zealand’s first all-breeds youth camp at the Manfeild Park Statium, Feilding from January 25-28. Stephen Booth, the New Zealand Holstein Friesian Association which co-ordinated the event, says the response was very pleasing. Participants’ ages ranged from 15 to 26, and there was a good spread across the breeds. The common factor was their interest in learning about the art of showing and breeding, New Zealand’s individual breed societies have run similar camps, but this was the first cross-breeds gathering. Booth sees considerable advantage for the participants in meeting likeminded peers from other breeds. An all-breeds youth camp has been held in Australia for some time, and the NZ Holstein Friesian Association, in conjunction with Romanac Stud, has sponsored young Kiwis to attend this event. The aim of the camp was to develop young people’s skills in handling stock, showing and its attendant clipping, preparation and requirements, and judging. In addition, they were given opportunities to enhance their public speaking confidence, and social interaction skills. The core activity was working in groups on a project to market a technology. This involved bringing together the full mix of skills – stock,
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marketing, promotion. The youth camp was also timed to lead into the the New Zealand Dairy Event, which followed at Manfeild Park on January 29-31. To begin with, the organised timed the event to precede the NZDE because they thought that youngsters would be interested in going to it as well. However, the link evolved into something stronger. The youth-camp participants were involved in helping with stock leading up to the NZDE, culminating in a practice mini-show and then the youth show at the NZDE. They also had the opportunity to be part of the national youth challenge event at the NZDE. The youth challenge is a contest between teams of five. In involves public speaking, agricultural knowledge, stock skills, clipping and preapring an animal for showing, judging, and a quiz. Teams accumulate points across all of these activities. John Allen, the New Zealand Holstein Friesian Association’s councillor for the lower North Island, sees the concept of an all-breeds youth camp as an opportunity for building relationships and encouraging enthusiasm for livestock, and the art of showing and breeding. It’s about bringing the next generation through,” he says.“There is not a lot of this type of training for young people in New Zealand and we see a need.” says Allen.
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