A passion for genetics has paid off for Fernside farmer Julie Bradshaw after four of her cows
were selected for Livestock Improvement Corporation’s (LIC’s) breeding programme.

A strong focus on genetics and DNA has paid dividends for Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw with
four of her cows being selected for Livestock Improvement Corporation’s (LIC’s) breeding
programme.
Julie is participating in a farming innovation project, which examines how the next generation of
farmers are using innovative approaches to improve their farming practices. Waimakariri Landcare
Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary
Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund
along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.
The four cows have been selected for the breeding profile based on their DNA profiles. In the next
mating season these cows will be mated to bulls specifically selected by LIC for genetic traits which
will complement cows’ traits. The aim is to improve the overall genetic profile of the herd.
“LIC have looked at their mothers and analysed their production during the selection process. Once
they have calved if it is a bull calf then they will genetically test it to determine if it meets the criteria
for LIC’s breeding programme.
“DNA testing the calves shows which genes it has inherited from its parents and then they can
analyse how well it will perform in the future.”
Over the last 20 years since Julie first became interested in genetics, technology has become far
more precise than when she did the first DNA tests on her herd, and this is providing economic
benefits to her farming operation.
“The rate of change with science and technology is amazing. DNA testing is a vital part of our farming
operation now and I am glad we started when we did because it has enabled us to have the best
herd we can which is based on science and facts.
“With possible reductions in animal numbers in the future you want to be as accurate as possible. If
you are relying on your own calving records, they are generally only about 65 to 70 per cent accurate
compared to DNA testing. Calving data is never perfect because you are under a lot of stress when
you are calving.
“If you use your own records, you are keeping animals that you think are going to be great, when
you haven’t got the animal you think you have in terms of its value to the herd. DNA testing sorts
out your mistakes and you avoid spending time and money on a calf that is not going to produce
anything once it joins the milking herd.”
Julie’s Production Worth (PW) and Breeding Worth (BW) herd sit in the top five per cent of
Canterbury herds and just under the top five per cent of all herds nationally which she says proves
that her investment in genetics has enabled her to refine her herd to ensure that she has the best
cows.

“Working with LIC over the last 20 years has really paid off for us. We have all our DNA data for the
herd, and it really is the best it has ever been. You know that you are on the right track, and we are
passionate about the future of genetics for farming in New Zealand.”

Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart is using a handheld nitrogen tester in conjunction with nitrogen sensors to apply the right amount of fertiliser which results in cost savings and environmental benefits.

Investing in a handheld nitrogen tester and using variable rate nitrogen fertiliser has enabled Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart to significantly reduce the amount of fertiliser he applies to his family’s 730-hectare arable and sheep operation which has resulted in cost savings and environmental benefits.

Roscoe is participating in a farming innovation project, which examines how the next generation of farmers are using innovative approaches to improve their farming practices. Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

Roscoe says the cost savings of applying variable rate nitrogen fertiliser compared to a traditional blanket approach are “astronomical”. He grid-sampled his paddocks and then determined the exact amount fertiliser required for each block via nitrogen sensors attached to the roof of his tractor.

“We have spread triple super for our phosphate and potash for our potassium as our base fertiliser. Where in the past we would have gone with a blanket approach we have been able to save a huge amount on fert this season by using variable rate.

“I think it’s incredibly worthwhile to invest in variable rate technology and it feels wrong now to put a blanket application across a paddock when I know how much variability there is within a single paddock.”

Roscoe has gone a step further to hone his precision techniques when applying fertiliser by purchasing a handheld nitrogen tester which he can use to fine tune applications throughout the growing season. Within ten minutes of the test, the nitrogen level of the plant is provided, and Roscoe and his team can then put this figure into the N sensor which then provides a starting point for the variable rate spreading of nitrogen.

“I have just purchased a Yara N-Tester which we will use to test rye grass, cereals, and brassicas to make sure we have the correct levels of nitrates. It is simple to use and allows us to find out what the N levels are and to see if we need to apply a little bit more or a bit less fertiliser.

“Hopefully, in combination with the N sensors on the tractor we will be able to be even more precise in how we do things. When it comes to managing the cost of inputs, I really believe that precision technology will help us to stay viable when looking ahead with rising costs and increasing environmental regulation.

“Anything that enables us to do more with less is better for our bottom line and for the environment.”

Crop sampling with the hand-held nitrogen tester will start in late August or early September and Roscoe says this will help to determine which elements are required by the plants, while avoiding a blanket application approach.

“We will get a good idea of where the crops are sitting early in the season and if there is anything missing, we can address that early on.”

This season Roscoe will continue with the same crops; however, he is considering trialling a regen paddock and comparing this to a conventional farming paddock to work out if there is a financial benefit to this type of farming.

“I want to have the two paddocks side by side and do a gross margin on both, so I have real data to show how they compare. I am a huge fan of on-farm comparisons and giving things a go because until you try something you never truly know if it works.”

While the first season of their subsurface drip irrigation trial hasn’t gone to plan due to the wet summer and autumn, Cust dairy grazers Penny and Gary Robinson have established a good baseline for the next season of their trial.

While Cust dairy grazers Gary and Penny Robinson are disappointed not to have collected the data they were hoping for from their subsurface drip irrigation trial due to a wet summer, the couple have established a baseline for the next irrigation season which they hope will follow a more normal weather pattern to enable data collection.

Gary and Penny are participating in a farming innovation project, which examines how the next generation of farmers are using innovation to improve their farming practices. Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

The subsurface drip irrigation system on their two-hectare test block in Cust consists of a network of valves, driplines, pipes, and emitters that are installed in tape below the surface of the soil. The evenly spaced emitters slowly release water directly to the root zone of plants which differs from traditional irrigation systems that apply water to the surface of the soil.

At the beginning of autumn Gary and Penny invited Carrfields and Ballance to visit the trial block to take pasture samples which have been used to provide a baseline for the next irrigation season. Penny says it is great to have two key industry partners on board to provide technical assistance with the trial.

“We mowed five consistent strips of the same width and length of pasture for analysis in terms of yield and tonnage per hectare of dry matter. This has given us a useful baseline which we can use for the following season.

“Having Carrfields and Ballance involved in the project is important as they are both invested in farming innovations. Carrfields can see that subsurface irrigation is the future of farming and Ballance are keen to see how we can use subsurface technology to apply precise amounts of fertiliser to the root zone of plants.”

Now that Gary and Penny have their baseline figures established, they plan to do an on-farm comparison between their subsurface irrigated trial block and the unirrigated section of the block. They will also compare the subsurface drip irrigation system with the traditional sprinkler irrigation system operating in another part of their farm.

“We have learned how the system functions at a practical level and moving forwards we are hoping for a typical irrigation season weatherwise so we can get the data to share with potential customers and partners. Having a baseline already in place allows us to track our progress throughout the season and make those important comparisons to prove the benefits of subsurface irrigation.”

Penny says one of the unique benefits of subsurface drip irrigation is the precision control of the system which allows farmers to use their water resource more efficiently resulting in cost savings and environmental benefits.

“The exact amount of water is applied directly to the roots which means you are not using any more water than you absolutely need to because you rely on data from your moisture probes which makes everything that much more accurate.

“You are irrigating to scientific data, not to what your eye can see. The result is overall more stable growth with better quality plants and a much better use of your water resource.”

For the next irrigation season Gary says the focus will be on measuring how much water is used by the subsurface irrigation system, the pasture growth rate and measuring how many tonnes per hectare of dry matter can be removed from the trial paddock.

“While it hasn’t been an ideal season for a trial, we are hopeful that we will be able to gather the data we need next season, and we will be ready to flip the switch on the subsurface irrigation system as soon as the moisture probes indicate we need to start irrigating.”

Fernside farmer Julie Bradshaw and Flaxton farmer Stu Bailey were able to make better informed decisions for their farms after participating in a five-year National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) co-innovation study.

Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw says sharing scientific data in a way that was easily
understandable and useful for farmers helped create close bonds between landowners and NIWA
scientists during a five-year joint co-innovation study.
Julie is participating in a six-month farming innovation project, which examines how the next
generation of farmers are using innovative approaches to improve their farming practices.
Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and
Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.
“It was a reciprocal relationship between our farmers and NIWA. They had no experience of dairy
farming, but it worked because we were willing to listen to each other and NIWA had a genuine
desire to provide us with data that was practical and helpful.”
Fellow co-innovation study group member Stu Bailey, a fourth generation Flaxton dairy farmer, says
working with NIWA helped him to make better farming decisions, especially on irrigation.
“They developed an easy-to-use tool that helped us to do things better. Before the project we had
limited data, but we now have a much broader understanding of what is really happening under the
ground.
“In the past you would look at the top of the soil and think it looked too wet or too dry but actually it
could be a bit dry on the top and wetter underneath where the grass roots are, and you wouldn’t
know that unless you have the moisture probes to measure it.”
Stu says having access to a broad range of data has opened his eyes to how useful science can be
when it is used in a practical way.
“We are looking at other ways to use the information and having the data helps us to feel confident
that we are making scientifically based decisions. We have improved our irrigation infrastructure to
better meet the demands of the soil and the grass which means we are now using less water.”
Julie would love to see further studies conducted to gauge the benefits gained during and after the
project and she believes the project provides an excellent example for other groups who want to
successfully engage with farmers to improve environmental outcomes.
“The difference with this project was that NIWA were responsive to our needs, and we worked
together to understand what data would be most useful to help us meet environmental regulations
and how best to receive this information.

“For example, in the beginning the moisture capacity of the soil was extremely basic and displayed in
a percentage format and this was changed to a colour scale so we could see immediately where the
moisture was sitting in the soil.
“We want information that is easy to understand in a couple of minutes because we are so busy
working on the land that we don’t want to be sitting around reading long reports. We want to able
understand what we need to do and then go out and do it.”
Meanwhile, this season Julie has been improving the condition of the grass on her farm. A consultant
has conducted soil testing and provided insights into actions she could take to boost the nutrient
value of the grass.
“We are looking at adding different species to our grass, along with plantains and a different mix of
grasses to give us a wider spread.
“There is no point just adding more fertiliser if you don’t know where you sit – you have to consider
the environmental impact of your actions.”
Julie’s KiwiCross herd which is a cross between Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cows is currently ranked
in the top five percent of Canterbury herds for breeding and production and sits just outside the top
five percent at a national level. She is passionate about continuing to improve the value of her herd
through genetics.
“We have 99 per cent recorded ancestry and all our herd are DNA tested so we know exactly what
we have and where we should be heading. As a business it is about getting the most efficient cows,
and then breeding from those cows.
“All dairy farmers need to be taking action to have the best herd of cows because that is going to be
the reality moving forward. Cow numbers are already being reduced across Europe to meet tougher
environmental regulations and it will happen here too.
“The best thing to do is to start working towards your genetic metrics now, as it is not something
you can do in a year. It will take at least five or six years to get the best herd and we need to be
proactive about this.”

Gary and Penny Robinson with their children Harry, Charlie, and Olivia in front of their subsurface drip irrigation test paddock in Cust

A wetter than usual irrigation season has hindered data collection efforts for Cust dairy grazers Gary
and Penny Robinson. They had planned to collect data over the season from their subsurface
irrigation system and compare this with traditional irrigation methods. However, the couple have
still been able to prove the system’s water and power saving benefits on their two-hectare test
block.
Gary and Penny are participating in a six-month farming innovation project, which examines how the
next generation of farmers are using innovation to improve their farming practices. Waimakariri
Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for
Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures
fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.
A subsurface drip irrigation system consists of a network of valves, driplines, pipes, and emitters that
are installed in tape below the surface of the soil. The evenly spaced emitters slowly release water
directly to the root zone of plants which differs from traditional irrigation systems that apply water
to the surface of the soil.
Gary says that while the unseasonably wet season meant that farmers didn’t require much water for
irrigation, the rainy weather stymied efforts to collect and compare data from their subsurface drip
irrigation trial block.
“This was meant to be our data collection season but with the significant rainfall events we have had
all season it hasn’t quite worked out the way we thought it would.”
Despite the uncooperative weather, Penny and Gary were able to gather information on water and
power savings during a drier period in the middle of the season.
“What we found was that over the drier period in December we only had to irrigate every fourth day
and with the emitters putting on two millilitres per hour we only ran it for two hours per day to get
our four millilitres.
“This equates to water savings of up to 25 per cent and you can take that water and spread it out
further over the rest of your land, so it is a much more efficient use of water.
“With the subsurface drip irrigation system, we are not wetting from the top but from under the soil,
so it stays wetter for longer which means you don’t need to irrigate as often, and you also don’t lose
any water due to evaporation.”

The couple also researched power savings and found that it was possible to save up to 50 per cent
on power usage due to the shorter operating time for the subsurface drip irrigation system.
“With a sprinkler system you need to keep it running 24 hours per day but because the subsurface
system doesn’t need to be running continuously you can make quite significant savings on power.”
Gary and Penny have secured another site for a subsurface drip irrigation trial at Angus Aiken’s 550-
hectare mixed cropping and finishing farm in Waiau. The plan is to have the irrigation system
installed in early spring.
Angus, who is a firm believer in technological innovation, says he is keen to see if the system can add
value to his farm.
“We have a limited water resource on this farm and if we can use it more efficiently and spread it
further that would be great. I am keen to make changes that preserve our soil structure, help to
manage nutrients, and improve our water use efficiency, while also improving our crop yield.”