An informed opinion of the New Zealand Dairy Board breed evaluation scheme : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Diploma in Farm Management at Lincoln University

Abstract

A study was undertaken to establish an informed personal opinion on the new Livestock Improvement Breed Evaluation Scheme. The study included three formal interviews, two with Canterbury dairy farmers and one with the local Livestock Improvement Consulting Officer, along with these interviews the research also included reading relative literature and informal personal communications. The new Breed Evaluation Scheme consists of two parts, the biological ( the animal model) and the financial evaluations (the economic model). In general the study showed that there was general agreement with the animal model, but opinion varied on the on the acceptance of the values for individual traits within the economic model. All three respondents believed there was room for improvement in the economic model, but their opinion on the degree of these improvements varied. The study enabled me to establish my own informed opinion, however it must be stated that this opinion was formed even though I did not have a complete understanding of the intricacies of the new system. My overall opinion was that the new scheme is a vast improvement on the old BI system of evaluation as it takes profitability into account. The new system needs to be used as a tool by dairy farmer to aid in making breeding and culling decisions. As the new scheme as it stands is designed for the average New Zealand dairy farm, which does not exist. Each New Zealand dairy farmer needs to apply the new scheme to his or here own situation, because the environmental conditions and market indicators that farmers operate under vary between locations and depends on the dairy company that they supply. Overall the aim of this report was to establish a personal opinion by finding out peoples general attitudes to the new scheme, these attitudes have been invaluable in allowing me to establish my own thoughts on the strengths, weaknesses and the position the new Breed Evaluation scheme should hold within the New Zealand dairy industry.