Plastic carpet slap back
A Government decision to carpet rural schools in foreign made synthetic carpets instead of New Zealand grown wool, flew in the face of all of its rhetoric about improving sustainability, protecting the planet and phasing out single use and hard to recycle plastics, Federated Farmers meat & wool chair Toby Williams said.
The same week the Government patted itself on the back for banning plastic bags, cutlery, straws, and fruit stickers – government politicians turned around and made a decision that didn’t add up, Toby said.
“It’s time for the Government to start backing our Kiwi sheep farmers. They need to stop carpeting our country in pine trees, and start carpeting our classrooms in sustainable products.”
Australian research on sheep AI
Researchers at the University of Queensland are investigating ways to lift the low success rate of artificial insemination (AI) in sheep, which would improve wool and meat yields, sustainability, and enhance animal welfare.
Lecturer in veterinary reproduction at UQ’s School of Veterinary Science, Dr Taylor Pini, said artificial insemination of sheep was notoriously difficult, resulting in pregnancy rates below 30%.
Only around 5% of sheep in Australia are bred using artificial insemination, compared to the Australian dairy industry which boasts rates of 85%.
“In the dairy industry, AI has allowed for rapid genetic improvements in cows while the sheep industry has been restricted to much slower progress through natural mating,” Taylor said.
Improved AI would herald a financial break though for sheep farmers.
“Existing insemination methods haven’t evolved in more than 40 years, highlighting the need for fresh new ideas with both commercial and animal welfare interests front of mind.”
Mussel farms may reduce nitrogen
A new study is doing a deep dive into whether mussel farms could help reduce nitrogen in New Zealand waters.
Project lead, NIWA marine ecologist Dr Emily Douglas said denitrification by bacteria living in marine sediments and restored mussel beds had been shown to enhance this process.
“We are investigating whether drop-off mussels from farms can similarly increase nitrogen removal.”
NIWA will base its study on analysed water samples from incubation chambers placed on the seabed below mussel farms
