Talking Dairy
Talking Dairy is your go-to podcast for New Zealand dairy farmers. You'll hear from farmers, scientists, and experts who share practical tips and insights to help you succeed. It's all about giving you the tools and knowledge to make the best decisions for your farm. Brought to you by DairyNZ, we help farmers lead the world in sustainable dairying by investing in research, new solutions and advocacy. Follow now and stay informed with the latest episodes.
Talking Dairy
Breeding for the long game | Ep. 97
When it comes to herd improvement, it’s easy to focus on high heritability traits like milk production and liveweight - where the gains are faster and more visible. But what about the traits that take time?
In this episode of Talking Dairy, Jac McGowan and Dr Rhiannon Hancock, a scientist at NZ Animal Evaluation, talk about why low heritability traits deserve a place in your breeding strategy – especially if you’re playing the long game.
Rhiannon explains how even small genetic gains in these areas can build over time, leading to big wins for herd productivity and long-term profitability.
Find out:
- Why heritability matters
- Why slow progress is still real progress
- Practical tips for long-term herd improvement
Listen for the full story behind the science.
This episode was inspired by the myth-busting story in the Feb-April edition of Inside Dairy – available at dairynz.co.nz/inside-dairy
Resources for more information on this topic:
Is focusing on low-heritability traits valuable when making breeding decisions? | DairyNZ
Animal - Breeding Decisions | DairyNZ
Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz
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