ABS focuses on what matters most to dairy farmers. Priding themselves on breeding commercial cattle that work alongside dairy farmers to increase profitability, ABS has been able to hold the number one position in Australia over the last two years.

ABS’s genetic profitability status, proven by their ranking capability across multiple indexes in a variety of countries. Notable the BPI and NM$ are both indexes that measure genetic merit in terms of animal profitability to the farmer. This development has come about through ABS’s core focus on breeding efficient, no fuss animals.

Globally ABS is recognised as a Biotech company. From the co-development of the first semen tank to the recent ground-breaking launch of their innovative Sexcel® sexed genetics product, ABS continues to challenge the status quo.

To find out how ABS genetics shape up here in New Zealand we visited Rikus Scheepers near Ashburton in the South Island to find out why he believes ABS genetics are the superior choice for New Zealand dairy farms.

Rikus Scheepers, originating from South Africa has spent the last 25 years of his life working with dairy cattle. From sitting in on his first AI course at just 7 years old in South Africa to managing a 1900 cow herd near Ashburton. Rikus and his wife made the move to New Zealand just six years ago. Rikus quickly noticed the difference between the ABS cows he had always milked and what has become the status quo here in New Zealand. Rikus tells us about his experiences and why he believes together ABS and Samen NZ have gotten pasture-based right.

“What better way to improve my herd than with ABS Genetics, I have worked with them all my life, it is reliable, I know it works, we did the production on worse pastures it is just that simple.”

Rikus’s #1 ABS bull this season is Avatar. “Currently I don’t think there is honestly a better bull for pasture-based systems than Avatar, if you look at his linear traits he literally ticks all of the boxes and the same with Atrium as well”

Rikus uses Sexcel on his heifers as they are the most valuable animals in the herd and he wants to fast track his genetic progress. Currently, the bottom 30% of his herd is mated to beef. Rikus has tried Red Wagyu, Black Hereford this season Rikus welcomes the day before filming his first two Short Gestation Belgian Blues from Samen NZ the first 18 days early and the second 14 days early. Moving forward Rikus’s goal next season is to move to 100% AI using Sexcel on his top cows and putting the rest into the Short Gestation Belgian Blue.

I really enjoy working with Lexi, Craig, and Tarsh from Samen NZ. I never have to ask Lexi the same question twice she is straight in and gets me what I need, Craig does everything he can for us and actually Tarsh, I have never delt with anyone who operates like Tarsh in the office. Samen NZ literally makes it easy for me, they certainly take a few hurdles out of my way and I really appreciate that of them.