The tool analysed a small tissue sample from the calf’s ear to identify its parentage which meant the Gerrings didn’t need to match calves to dams in the paddock.
“It’s good to know for sure that our young stock, especially those with high breeding values, were out of who they’re supposed to be,” Bill said.
LIC’s diagnostics manager, Geoff Corbett, said the service had been used more as farms had become larger.
“As farms have gotten larger it has, understandably, become increasingly difficult to accurately record and confirm the pedigree of calves and that’s important information as they are to be the new crop of cows in the herd,” he said.
Farmers wanted an easier solution; they wanted assurance around their significant artificial breeding spend, that they are keeping the correct animals, and that any genetic gain is not lost to identifying the wrong parent, he said.
