GENETICS & BREEDING
Using the laws of nature
G
ed Goode and Harry Mowbray are two men on a mission. A mission to increase their farms efficiency and create a system that will continue long-term. Goode and Mowbray are partners in Hartwood Farms near Tokoroa, Waikato. The farm, which was originally converted to an organic farm 12 years ago, has since begun creating a farming system designed to get the most out of nature. This meant Goode and Mowbray having to undergo extensive research and stripping back what is currently perceived as normal or known to how the environment is naturally developed to deal with many different obstacles dairy farmers face on a daily basis.
“While this process has been long and hard, the farm performance is proving itself worth the investment.” Studying pasture growth and natural cycles has empowered them to embed biodiverse systems into this unique dairy farming system. Some of these systems have required a change in the status quo attitude to how they graze pasture and last year alone, Hartwood Farms planted 6000 fruit trees on the farm. The fruit trees attract different kinds of bugs that go into the natural life cycle of the farm and provide valuable shelter and shade for the animals. While this process has been long and hard, the farm performance is proving itself worth the investment. As part of their research into the benefits of biodiversity, they have also been focusing on the genetics of his herd. Firstly focusing on A2A2 and the polled gene, last year they raised 250 calves and only nine needed to be disbudded. During their focus into the herd’s genetics, Goode and Mowbray weren’t surprised to find the benefits of crossbreeding and more importantly the Three Way Cross and its performance in various farms around the world. The
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Three-way-cross genetics are being used on Hartwood Farms in Waikato to breed efficient cows to ensure future sustainability.
Samen’s Three Way Cross breed has 86% continuous heterosis or hybrid vigor, as well as other benefits.
key benefit of a Three Way Cross is the staggering 86% continuous heterosis (hybrid vigor) you can achieve once the cross is stabilised. Heterosis was one draw for Hartwood Farms looking at the Three Way Cross, however, when investigating further they found all of the other incredibly efficient benefits of using specially selected breeds in the Three Way Cross. When selecting intended breeds they looked at feed conversion efficiencies, the CLA gene (immune boosting), A2A2, polled and the breeds potential for dual purpose.
The Future of Efficiency is an animal that can combine all of these factors, produce high-component dairy products, a high-valued beef calf (rather than a bobby calf) and have superior health traits and immunity. We have produced a farming system here that is sustainable and will be here for a very long time. Goode and Mowbray are confident that many of these techniques are the direction the industry needs to take to secure the future of a sustainable dairy industry. n
DAIRY FARMER
March 2021
