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The article focuses on Balnham farmers Rob and Deb Haldane of New Zealand who use synchronized helfers, short generation bulls and controlled internal drug release (CIDR) during mating period. Topics discussed include dehorning and identification of calves through DNA, impact of gold rush at the Quartz Range goldfields, New Zealand, and taking care of backpackers in the property who visit from countries including Scotland and Czechoslovakia.

The article discusses the efforts of Ray and Sandra Hocking, who also own the country's top bull San Ray FM Beamer, to support farming and dairy industry in New Zealand instead of retirement. It mentions the sale of their pedigree Friesian herds. It also mentions that they milk 130 cows for 55,000killograms milksolids in their lease farm in Golden Bay, New Zealand.

The article discusses the bull breeding programme of New Zealand dairy farmer Alister Hall. Topics explored include the commitment of Hall to producing bulls with high protein breeding value index, remarks from Hall about the necessity of breeding efficient cows to ensure farm productivity, and brief details about the cattle supplementation, milksolids production, and herd maintained by Hall in his dairy farm.

The article presents information on the Holstein Friesian Discovery Project in Kairanga in New Zealand. This project was organized by the Holstein Friesian Association and LIC. The project is designed to identify elite females of the breed to develop top cow families and potential bull mothers for the artificial insemination industry. The Kairanga property owned by the New Zealand Rural Property Trust was the host farm for the season.

The article focuses on the legal ground for New Zealand dairy farmers to claim compensation from Livestock Improvement Corp. (LIC) for the financial losses they incurred to the poor traits of heifers born from the bull Matrix. According to litigator Murray Branch of Harkness Henry, the Fair Trading Act could provide provision for a claim. He noted a provision in the farmers' agreement with LIC that the co-operative is not liable for any loss or damage arising from any LIC service or product.

The article reports on the effect of putting the bulls out on the success of artificial insemination (AI). According to Mark and Denise Butson, they are having difficulties getting enough cows up for AI until they talked to former worker Lynsey Selcraig who suggested putting the bulls out. They reveal that after following Selcraig's suggestion, 46 cows were found to be ready to be inseminated compared with the previous day's 24. They add that the empty rate dropped from 12 percent to seven.

This article reports on the decision of a judge in the New Zealand High Court to accept efforts of LIC to file an interim injunction against Liberty Genetics and other bull breeders. The judge made the decision in relation with the sale of semen sourced from Australia. He also laid an injunction against the defendants around alleged breaches over the use of a heifer for breeding.

The article discusses how dairy farmers can use bull management to reduce their use of inductions in New Zealand. According to DairyNZ reproductive scientist Chris Burke, farmers with long mating periods will reduce their overall mating period in order to avoid using inductions. DairyNZ's InCalf program offers a risk analysis tool which can help farmers in their bull selection and management.

The article deals with a study which analysed the top bulls used over New Zealand dairy herds which has shown that CRV AmBreed is delivering a full package cow. The company's genetic strategist Phil Beatson cites essential factors that can be used to monitor the effectiveness of genetic research, such as breeding worth, protein type and management traits. Dairy Sire Summaries provided data for the study.

The article discusses the role of carcass data in producing high-quality grass-fed beef in New Zealand-based agricultural industry Mount Linton Station. Topics discussed include increase in sale of breeding bulls; the views of the firm's General manager Ceri Lewis on the importance of carcass data in business success; and the role of ultrasound scanning in unearthing outliers in the genetic programme.

The article discusses the cattle breeding of pedigree Jerseys or pedigree Friesians within the same herd by couples Paul and Diana Capes of Eketahuna in New Zealand. The Capes aim to reduce their 800 cows into 730 but continue to handle both Jerseys and Friesians. Paul said that they had to prefer overseas bulls to widen the genetic pool for the Jerseys.

The article discusses the implications of the shift to genomic selection in bulls for breeding and genetic gain in the New Zealand dairy herd. Genomic selection is expected to increase genetic gain by allowing elite bulls to be identified with 50% to 65% reliability. Reduction in generation interval will allow bulls to enter premier sire status before they were three years old according to John Redshaw of LIC. It cites that scientists can match the DNA patterns of proven bulls to desired traits.

The article offers information on the New Zealand Test Day Model, a method for evaluating the production performance from herd test records. Using the model, the factors affecting each test day environment are calculated more comprehensively compared to the old systems. Specific changes that can be seen using the model include the production of bulls' daughters that produce better compared to herdmates in the first part of lactation and having daughters that mature well.

The article reports that the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics, the government-backed subsidiary of Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd. (B+LNZ), has started a dairy-beef progeny test to know that what quality beef genetics can be added to the dairy-beef supply chain. It mentions the views of B+LNZ's chief executive Scott Champion on the important of test in the dairy and the beef sectors. It also mentions that ninety-four bulls such as angus and hereford bulls will be used in the test.

The article offers tips to livestock farmers in New Zealand on improving livestock's reproductive performance. Livestock farmers are advised to have a mating plan in place by the month of October, with some regions of the country often starting the mating season even before October. They are also advised to use information from the MINDA herd records of the Livestock Improvement Corp. to assess mating performance. Watching out for lameness and injury among bulls is considered necessary.

The article announces the Organic Input Certification given by BioGro New Zealand to LIC, allowing it to supply organic systems, all semen from its bulls.

The article encourages dairy farmers in New Zealand not to base their selection of bulls solely on genetics, as this criterion would have to be complemented with the type of farm and system in which the cows are bred. According to Peter Barney, marketing manager at CRV AmBreed, farmers should look into the overuse of a small number of bulls and the use of two bulls with local bloodlines. Farmers are told to consider production, management and functional traits of breeds.

The article focuses on the use of scrotal circumference test in ascertaining the fertility of bulls at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) in Canterbury, New Zealand. The test is based on studies which correlated scrotal circumference and testicular size with sperm production. Bulls that have 32-centimeter scrotum will again be subjected to other tests to discount any diseases.

The article focuses on the introduction of the genomic technology under the DNA Proven brand from LIC at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm in Canterbury, New Zealand. The technology seeks to improve on-farm productivity by increasing breeding worth (BW) of bulls in the market. The New Zealand Animal Evaluation (NZAEL) notes that the genomic selection overestimated BW in Holstein Friesan, Jersey and Kiwi Cross breeds.

The article reports on Liberty Genetics' criticism of New Zealand Animal Evaluation (NZAEL) for overstating the breeding worth predictions for bulls selected based on genomics. According to Liberty Genetics managing director David Hayman, the NZAEL overstatement has distorted the artificial breeding sector. The move of NZAEL also induced dairy farmers to invest in an untested product.

The article reports on the availability of fresh sexed semen from New Zealand bulls, processed at the Ruakura Research Centre, a result of an agreement between Sexing Technologies based in the U.S., AgResearch and the Waikato Innovation Park. The rate of genetic advancement in herds is accelerated through the opportunity given to farmers by the laboratories and infrastructure, according to Dr. Vish Vishwanath, section manager of reproductive technologies at AgResearch.

The article reports on the control of the viral disease enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) in the dairy herd in New Zealand after a 12-year process of testing and culling. The EBL disease can lead to bovine cancer. Farmers were encouraged to remove infected animals from the herd. According to David Hemara, general manager of strategy and growth at the farmer co-operative Livestock Improvement Corp., there were no infected herds detected in the 2008-2009 season. The screening of bulls is done before mating and before they are brought on to the property.

The article reports on the use of natural bull mating two weeks earlier than the main herd, by the Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF) in New Zealand. Savings in breeding costs and 887-88 percent of heifers calved within the three weeks of the planned start of calving of the main herd will be realized, according to LUDF business manager and FarmWise consultant George Reveley. An average of breeding worth at 62 is to be used in the main herd which is to be mated at DNA Proven bulls.

The article reports on the facilitation of the rates of genetic gain through the introduction of the genomically selected DNA Proven semen, according to Mark Dewdney, chief executive of the farmer co-operative Livestock Improvement Corp. (LIC). Nine out of the top 10 Holstein Friesian and crossbred bulls in the ranking of active sires list are composed of LIC-bred bulls. According to LIC general manager of genetics Peter Gatley, the use of genetic information which gave sires a higher than average reliability was the reason for the success.

The article reports that DairyNZ has called on dairy farmers to take care interpreting the CRV AmBreed analysis which questions the accuracy of breeding worth value estimates for bulls graduating from sire-proving schemes in New Zealand. Dr. Bruce Thorrold of DairyNZ said that the company takes the question of such accuracy seriously and it is critical that farmers have confidence in the animal evaluation system. He added that DairyNZ had concerns about the method and interpretation of the analysis.

The article reports on move of Hamilton, New Zealand-based genetics company AmBreed to sign a memorandum of cooperation with Heilongjiang Province in China to export about 150 live bulls from 2009 to 2013. The move is part of the strategic milk project plan of Heilongjiang. A cooperation agreement with international agricultural product company Tru-Test has also been signed to import mechanical milk meters into the province. Genetic technology is being used by Ambreed to determine sires carrying a deadly calf-maiming gene.

The article reports that a raid uptake in Livestock Improvement Corp. Limited's (LIC) launched DNA Proven product, especially for KiwiCross bulls, has led Chairman Stuart Bay to predict the breed will become dominant in New Zealand. He said LIC launched the first team of proven crossbred bulls in 2004. LIC's KiwiCross team had registered the biggest advance in breeding worth (BW) points of around 31, compared with 22 for Jerseys and eight for Holstein Friesians.

The article offers highlights of a discussion on teaser bulls by veterinarian Chris Norton at the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) in New Zealand. Based on a research involving non-cycling cows in Canterbury funded by DairyNZ, Norton found that teaser bulls had been able to lift the four week in-calf rate by 6% and bring an extra 7% of cows into heat over the first 21 days of mating. However, the bulls had not been able to make a difference to the overall empty rate or 7 week in-calf rate.

The article reports on the delivery of 30 bulls by HSS Genetics to a private Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company. The Chinese AI company markets more than a million doses of semen annually. According to the owner of the AI company, the AI market is expanding in China and New Zealand genetics is on top of their interest.

The article focuses on a DairyNZ-funded study on the use of bulls to bring non-cycling cows into oestrus being conducted by veterinarian Chris Norton in Canterbury, New Zealand. The teaser bulls prepared for the farm-scale replicated trial in the area have been vasectomised allowing them to do the same job as a fully working bull. The study is examining whether bulls had any impact on submission and in-calf rates. Norton plans to present the findings at the South Island Dairy Event in June 2008.

The article reports that the New Zealand Holstein Friesian Association has paid off the $240,000 debt incurred in its failed 2004 sharemilking venture. It cites the factors that helped the association pay the debt. It details the progress of the Discovery Project, a joint venture entered by the association with LIC aimed at identifying potential bull mothers and breeding top bulls.

The article presents the findings of a study by veterinarian Greg Tattersfield over the 2005-2006 period regarding the fertility of bulls in New Zealand. His research has found that of 415 mixed age bulls, 13 percent were subfertile and 15 percent were unsound. The research emphasized the need for dairy farmers to examine bull fertility when purchasing the animals. Farmers are also urged to demand soundness testing of bulls.

The article features dairy farmer Raeden Jackson of Te Aroha, New Zealand. He owns 100 milking cows that are all pedigree and raises about 95 female calves each year. His four-year-old bulls were selected for the Premier Sires team on the part lactation performance of their daughters in sire proving herds around the country. According to Jackson, to become a bull breeder, one should be aware of what he is trying to breed and the best basic principles have to be adhered to.

Features the 2006 Premier Sirens dairy teams in New Zealand. Qualities of the teams; Advantages of the teams to dairy farmers; Origins of bulls in the teams.

Focuses on the contribution of AmBreed to the breeding programme of CRV Holdings in New Zealand in 2006. Acquisition of AmBreed by CRV in 2004; Remarks from CRV chairman Jan Jansen on AmBreed; Population of bulls that are being tested annually by CRV; Other services offered by CRV.

This article reports on an all-time record for semen production established by Okura Manhatten ET SJ3 Jersey bull in New Zealand. The jersey bull was bred by breeders from Hikurangi, Northland. There is a strong demand for Manhatten around the world.

Focuses on the utilization of Spring Pak genetics from Alpha which was introduced in 2003 for bulls in New Zealand. Types of bulls that can be produced using the genetics; Benefits of the Pak for dairy farmers; Prices of the product.

Focuses on the selection of bulls for the Forward Pack bulls for KiwiCross™ Team in New Zealand in 2005. Views of Dale Gilchrist, product manager at PREMIER SIRES, on the ability of bulls to produce a number of daughters; Features of KiwiCross bulls; Inability of Moontide bulls to be included in the team.

Addresses the need to conduct blood tests on bulls used for breeding before mating to reduce cattle bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) in the national beef and dairy herds in New Zealand as of October 2005. Estimated dairy losses in BVD-infected herds; Information on BVD; Percentage of dairy and beef herds that are believed to be infected with BVD according to Veterinary Association spokesperson and Wangunui veterinarian John Pickering.

Presents information on the Ballaglonny Farm to be visited by the delegates of the British Grassland Society's 2005 summer tour to the Isle of Man in New Zealand. Size of the farm; Types of bulls found in the farm; Productivity of the farm.

Discusses the efficiency of running bulls with non-cycling cows during mating season, based on observations from several dairy farms in New Zealand. Number of non-cycling cows in a herd; Ratio of bull to cow; Result of the analysis of a group of cows treated with intra-uterine device, and a group ran with bulls.

Discusses the role of the Breeding Worth (BW) index in increasing cow production in New Zealand. Examples of the close connection between high BW and high production; Amount of expected hybrid vigour on average in matings between bulls and cows that are themselves crossbreds.

Focuses on store feed options for dairy bulls in New Zealand. Growth rates of the animals fed with brassica; Behavior of bulls that have been given swede bulbs; Recommendations of the British Health and Safety Executive in keeping beef cattle in fields with public access.