Sheep Breeder Forum 2024

Friday 15th March 2024

Sheep Breeder Forum 2024

The B+LNZ Genetics' Sheep Breeder Forum brings together breeders, scientists and industry professionals from across New Zealand.

Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd July
Addington Events Centre
Christchurch

View a copy of the forum programme here
 

Registrations closed on Tuesday 25 June.  If you have any questions please email info@blnzgenetics.com

Livestreaming/Video

This year, we will not be livestreaming however the sessions will be professionally recorded and made available online after the forum. This decision was made out of courtesy to those who have invested in attending the conference in person.

We appreciate that not everyone can attend due to various commitments and obligations, and we understand the importance of providing access to the conference content for our industry. Every effort will be made to capture the essence of the discussions and presentations held during the conference.

Networking afternoon: Tuesday 2 July

Breeder group meetings and FE tolerance test update:

At the beginning of the networking afternoon on Day 1, the B+LNZ Research team will provide an update on the FE Tolerance Test at 3:40pm. This is open to any breeders who are interested in hearing the update.

Afterwards, the FE Gold group will use the remaining time for their group meeting finishing 4:30pm.
The WormFEC Gold group meeting is scheduled for 4:35pm (immediately after FE Gold's meeting) and finishes at 5:25pm.

B+LNZ Staff face time

During the networking afternoon, there is an opportunity for delegates to have one-on-one face time with several B+LNZ staff members to discuss more personalised queries. There will be a sign-up sheet at the forum for you to book a time slot. Staff available are:

Travel and Accomodation

Arrival

The venue is a 25-minute drive from the Christchurch airport. There is plenty of free on-site parking at the venue for those driving. For those arriving directly to the forum on day one before checking into their accommodation, we will have a room set aside to store your luggage for the day.

Accommodation options

We have been exploring options with nearby accommodation providers to negotiate a discounted rate for delegates.

 

Chateau on the Park which is a 10-minute drive to the conference venue will offer a discounted rate for forum attendees. We will be providing a bus to and from the conference for attendees staying here. 

 

You can book directly (discount applied) by following this link: Booking Link

 

Alternatively, you can phone them on 03 348 8999 and use the code GBNLA to make a reservation. Please note, rooms are subject to availability. Cancellation policy is 48hrs prior to arrival.

 

Accomodation options within walking distance are:


Departure

After checking out of their accommodation, delegates can bring their luggage with them to the forum on day two, and store it in our designated room at Addington Events Centre.

Buses are organised for the field trip on day two. For those that have flights booked, we will arrange for one of the return buses to transport you directly from the field trip to Christchurch airport. The bus will return to Christchurch airport by 3:30pm and you will be able to take your luggage with you.

Another bus will take remaining delegates back to the Addington Events Centre after the field trip.

Refund Policy:

Refunds can be requested up to 10 days prior to the forum (less admin fee)*
Tickets are transferable. Please notify us if you intend to transfer your ticket.
*Please provide as much notice as possible if you decide to cancel. This gives us the opportunity to fill the seat. If you need to request a refund please email info@blnzgenetics.com. Generally, any refunds requested prior to 21 June will receive a full refund (less admin fee). Refunds requested after 21 June, and prior to 30 June, will receive a 50% refund (less admin fee). Refunds requested after 30 June may not receive a refund.
 

Thankyou to our sponsors

We extend our thanks to the following sponsors for supporting this event. 

AbacusBio  |   Pre-dinner drinks sponsor

AbacusBio is a global leader in agricultural consulting and genetics, dedicated to enhancing the productivity and sustainability of farming practices. With over two decades of experience, we integrate cutting-edge science with practical solutions to advance the genetics of livestock and crops. Our offerings encompass genomic evaluations, genetic improvement programs, and strategic value chain consulting, empowering farmers and agribusinesses to make informed, data-driven decisions leading to superior results. 

We provide tailored solutions across various agricultural sectors, including livestock, crops, aquaculture, and horticulture. Our genetic improvement programs assist breeders in selecting and prioritizing traits that increase productivity, health, and environmental sustainability. For instance, sheep breeders can benefit from our advanced tools to enhance flock performance, focusing on traits like health, yield, and welfare while reducing environmental impact. 

At the core of AbacusBio's approach is our commitment to practical application. We collaborate closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to ensure our innovations are seamlessly integrated into everyday operations, resulting in tangible benefits. By leveraging our extensive global reach and deep expertise, we help agribusinesses achieve higher genetic gains, operational efficiency, and resilience in a competitive market.

https://abacusbio.com/ 

FMG  |  Dinner Sponsor

FMG is the leading rural insurer in Aotearoa New Zealand. We’re 100% New Zealand owned and operated, with a deep understanding of rural risks and needs. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, tailored to the specific needs of farmers, growers, and other rural businesses. For as long as you want to achieve bigger and better things, FMG promises to be there to help you make good calls. We’re here to help put you in control of the risks and obstacles that could get in your way. Whether it’s online, on the phone or in-person, we believe in an advice-led approach that helps you succeed in the long term. 

www.fmg.co.nz

Gallagher   |    Trade Display

Gallagher Animal Management is a world-leading provider of animal and land management solutions operating in over 160 countries. Pushing boundaries since 1938 as pioneers of the electric fence, Gallagher's on farm innovations have evolved to include virtual fencing, livestock weighing and performance systems, land and water management tools, and a range of cloud-based solutions that ensure better farming outcomes.

Committed to supporting diverse farming practices and the agricultural industry, Gallagher prioritize science, inclusivity, and open dialogue when developing solutions. Gallagher's integrated and customisable hardware and software ecosystems empower farmers to work responsibly, productively, and profitably.  

gallagher.com/en-NZ

GenomNZ   |   Session Sponsor, Trade Display

GenomNZ is New Zealand’s foremost commercial animal DNA genotyping laboratory. Using advanced DNA genotyping technologies, GenomNZ offers New Zealand’s premier sheep genomics 60K plus chip. The 60K plus chip is exclusive to GenomNZ and is the most accurate and SNP dense chip on the market.

It contains ~70,000 markers and contains variants associated with production traits and genetic diseases. GenomNZ provides a one-stop shop for a range of applications, including parentage assignment, genomic relationships, breed composition, genomic breeding values and inbreeding. The laboratory specialises in not just sheep, but deer, goat, cattle, plant and aquaculture DNA extraction and analysis.

As a business unit of AgResearch, GenomNZ provides a valuable link from the latest discovery science to the industry and all our SNP chips are updated with markers as they are discovered. GenomNZ provides a flexible service, including consultation and collaboration with the AgResearch Animal Genomics research team, to ensure the results our clients receive make a real difference to their breeding and recording systems. Finally, any profits generated from GenomNZ are spent on development of the next generation of genetic testing, so you can be assured by choosing GenomNZ for your genetic testing that you are investing in the future development for genetics in New Zealand agriculture. 

www.agresearch.co.nz/partnering-with-us/products-and-services/genomnz/

Map of Ag   |   Morning Tea sponsor

Map of Ag is the New Zealand and global technology company building a world where industry and farms thrive together.  Previously known as Rezare Systems, the software provider responsible for development of a number of New Zealand agricultural technology initiatives is now part of the global Map of Agriculture Group. Map of Ag is a substantial partner with Beef+Lamb New Zealand Genetics in the ongoing development and enhancement of nProve.  

In addition to these technology projects, Map of Ag provides farmer-controlled data sharing for industry organisations and supply chains, improving accuracy and reducing double-handling of data.  Map of Ag is proud to serve New Zealand farmers, and to sponsor morning tea for this event.  

mapof.ag

Smart Shepherd   |   Trade Display

Smart Shepherd is an award-winning technology that measures the maternal performance of free-range livestock. It accurately identifies the lambs raised by each ewe and measures the strength of the ewe-lamb bond. Smart Shepherd is a game changer for improving mothering ability, productivity and welfare.

It is easy to apply on farm alongside existing events in the farming calendar using normal animal handling equipment. Smart Shepherd maternal pedigree information has 99% concordance with DNA based pedigrees, it can greatly reduce costs and the number of animals genotyped in a DNA based programme. It works in any environment with any grazing livestock, including sheep, cattle, goats and deer. 

www.smartshepherd.nz

Zoetis  |  Lunch Sponsor, Trade Display

There is no one size fits all solution when it comes to farming, so why should there be when it comes to DNA testing for your flock? 

 The Zoetis Shepherd® range offers a comprehensive suite of genomic tools, that can be tailored to the individual NZ Sheep stud breeders needs to enable informed decision making and make more profitable breeding decisions.  With a broad range of options and per ewe scanned in lamb pricing*, a higher lambing percentage doesn’t have to mean higher DNA testing costs AND enables greater flock insights by making it affordable to sample ALL lambs born, not just those that make it to the tailing chute.  

With today’s technology you can make smarter decisions – identify superior animals earlier, and reduce costly selection and breeding mistakes, all while minimizing management costs. 

We have a dedicated team of experienced and knowledgeable experts ready to help throughout the process, from sampling to results interpretation. Come chat with our team about how we can help you today, to improve your flock for the future. 

*This excludes initial sampling of ewes. 

www.zoetis.co.nz/products-solutions/genetics

 

 



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