Technology design and marketing: case studies for cattle
breeding.
T.G. Parminter, R.S. Wilkinson, I.S. Tarbotton, J.C. Carter,
W.H. McMillan and D.S. Smeaton
AgResearch, Whatawhata Research Centre, Private Bag 3089,
Hamilton.
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1997,
57: 112-115
An assessment of farmer beliefs and attitudes to predict likely
use of new beef breeding cow technologies was undertaken with farmers
from Northland, King Country, and Hawke's Bay. In workshops, farmers
evaluated the use of twinning through embryo transfer, artificial
insemination with sex-sorted encapsulated semen, and terminal sires. The
proportions of farmers likely to use the technologies to some extent,
were 55, 72, and 83% respectively. Farmers identified the important
interactions that would be expected to occur if the technologies were
introduced into typical beef farming systems in their area. Attitudes
towards each technology and towards selected technology attributes,
indicated important considerations for future development of the
technologies. These included their ability to: improve breeding cow
returns; achieve easy care calvings; and integrate with sheep enterprise
management to provide leafy feed for lambs. Consideration of these
attributes in technology research, development, and marketing, is likely
to improve technology uptake.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
extension; innovation; beef; breeding cows; reproductive
technologies; farmer beliefs.
Last Updated 12-09-1998
