Imagine a world where sheep farmers are unable to use drenches, tail their lambs or dip their sheep.

 

Drench resistance, climate change, rising costs and consumer demand for red meat produced with minimal inputs are all very real issues for sheep farmers and the Low Input Progeny Test (LIPT) has highlighted the potential for genetics to help address them.

 

Starting in 2019, the LIPT was a three-year programme co-funded by Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries.  The general aim of “low input” farming is to reduce, as much as possible, the use of external inputs such as drenches, treatments, and labour. 

 

The progeny test will be wound down from the end of this year, having highlighted the role genetics can play in a sheep’s ability to perform with minimal inputs in a challenging environment. 

 

A final field day has been planned to share insights from the trial and information for farmers wanting to incorporate low input traits into their flocks.

 

The field day will focus on:

• Providing insights to support farmers wanting to incorporate low input traits into their flocks
• Key low input traits: Dag Score, Tail Length, Parasite Resistance, Methane and Feed Efficiency.
• Farm management: experiences and insights from hosting the trial 
• Results from the last three years of the trial

Progeny will be on display.  Food and refreshments will be supplied. 

 

The Field Day will also be livestreamed.

 

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