Technology

Landcorp Farming applies new knowledge and technologies to its genetic improvement programmes, and to its management of livestock and farms for increased performance and productivity. Technologies are selected for their potential to reduce costs, and to enhance the quality or range of Landcorp's production.

Genetics and Breeding

DNA Profiling is being used across all lambs, calves and fawns in Landcorp's sire breeding programmes to ensure accuracy in parentage recording and to improve operational efficiency in each breeding programme. After use for parentage assignment, the samples are stored in Landcorp's own "DNA Bank". This bank holds a wide range of DNA pedigrees that may assist with the development of new animal genes, leading to improvements in health, productivity and other attributes.

Electronic Identification (EID) is used in Landcorp's breeding programmes to maintain a high degree of accuracy in data collection and subsequent estimation of genetic merit (indicated through Breeding Values or BVs). EID promotes easier management of animal data and the data collection process, as well as reducing stress on animals.

Ultrasound Scanning is used on Landcorp's farms to determine the pregnancy status of all commercial ewes, cows and hinds, enabling improved management of the pregnant females. For example, ewes identified as carrying twins or triplets can be provided with higher quality nutrition for optimal foetal growth and development.

Ultrasound scanning is also used in Landcorp's sheep and beef cattle sire breeding programmes to measure fat depth and rib-eye muscle dimensions to assist in the selection for improved carcass meat production.

Computerised Tomography (CT) Scanning is a non-invasive process that can measure the weight of meat and fat in the carcass of a live animal. Landcorp uses CT scanning to improve the selection accuracy of sires with superiority in the weight of meat in the carcass, without increasing the amount of carcass fat.

The CT scanner has significantly increased the rate of genetic improvement in commercial meat productivity in Landcorp's Lamb Supreme and Texel breeding programmes. In a world- and industry-first move, Landcorp has developed techniques and analytical parameters in the CT scanning of young Red and Wapiti stags in order to select those with higher weight of meat in the carcass. Use of these improved terminal lines of rams and stags in Landcorp's lamb and deer production is capitalising on the profit potential of these high-performing sires.

InnerVision ^TM is a CT scanning joint venture between Landcorp and AgResearch. The InnerVision^TM facility is commercially available for use by industry ram and stag breeders, for CT scanning and carcass BV estimation services. A further joint development is the InnerValue ^TM service which involves an enhanced scanning procedure for estimating genetic merit for improved meat production in higher value parts of the carcass.

DNA Marker/Gene Genotyping services are commercially available in the sheep industry. Landcorp uses some of them in its sheep breeding programmes. For example, in the Landcorp Romney and Landmark breeding programmes, identifying and selecting animals that are carriers of the WormSTAR^TM marker allows for genetic improvement in resistance to internal parasites.

Research & Development

Landcorp's R&D programme, usually in collaboration with industry researchers, provides new knowledge and technologies for improving animal health and nutrition, and performance and productivity. The programme includes:

• Provision of data and animals for: estimating genetic parameters and relationships in carcass traits in sheep and deer; estimating sire effects on lamb survival and on ewe litter size; estimating the onset of pedicle development in young stags; and investigating the genetic basis to Johnes Disease in deer.
• Participation in industry-based central progeny tests and across-flock or -herd sire evaluations in sheep, beef cattle and deer.
• Provision of data, animals, facilities and expertise for the advancement of science on the influence of non-genetic factors on gene expression in sheep (epigenetics).
• Co-operation with industry researchers in soil fertility, fertiliser use, forage production, and crop and pasture pests across a wide range of farming enterprises and locations. Specific areas of research have included: soil management; nitrogen inhibitors; control of grass grub, manuka beetle and clover root weevil; and Californian thistle control.

Environmental Monitoring

Landcorp has weather stations on most properties. These stations record air temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, light intensity, soil temperature and rainfall. The data can be accessed remotely using the Internet as a valuable input to on-farm planning. Weather station reports help in predicting pasture growth, in assessing whether a property accumulates sufficient thermal time to grow certain crops and in monitoring environmental trends over time.

Landcorp maintains rigorous management on its fertiliser application. There are significant agronomic and financial benefits in using only high quality fertilisers, with accuracy in their application. Landcorp uses mainly Fertmark-approved products and encourages its spreading contractors to be Spreadmark certified.

Technology Transfer

Landcorp measures farm performance using indicators of productivity and Economic Value Added (EVA). These indicators enable comparison of individual farms within Landcorp and benchmarking against best performance standards in the wider industry.

On this basis, technology is transferred internally among Landcorp properties and externally with other participants in agriculture. Internal transfers involve farm manager workshops for the exchange and promotion of ideas, techniques and technologies. Landcorp puts a particular focus on its upper quartile managers sharing knowledge with less-experienced farm managers.

External technology transfer involves industry experts coming onto Landcorp properties to share knowledge with managers and staff, and also the maintenance of alliances with Crown Entities, universities and private sector research organisations. The Company constantly looks to transfer best practices in specific areas of farming from "bench-top to farm".

Technology transfer is increasingly important in addressing issues of food safety, supply chain traceability, genetics improvement, environmental management and animal disease control.