Zoetis’ CLARIFIDE® Plus heifer genomic test was crowned winner of the Royal Dairy Innovation Award at Dairy-Tech 2020.
Phil Cullinan, Commercial Manager Precision Livestock Farming at Zoetis receiving the award from Lyndsay Chapman, CIELivestock and Tim Downes, Head Judge.
With genetic testing key to predicting a heifer’s potential – providing information about the genetic merit of the animal – testing with CLARIFIDE Plus predicts both the animal’s potential and their ability to reach it.
CLARIFIDE Plus is the only test to incorporate health and wellness traits in addition to the production traits delivered by standard testing. This unique genomic test builds on the offering of CLARIFIDE, delivering proven results on wellness. It also means it is not only possible to predict the future potential of an animal but also the ability of that animal to remain healthy and fulfil its potential.
Phil Cullinan, commercial manager precision livestock farming, Zoetis says: “It’s fantastic to have won this award and for our new CLARIFIDE Plus test to have been recognised within the industry. We look forward to rolling it out on more farms moving forward, helping businesses improve welfare, performance, sustainability and profitability.
Tim Downes, head of judges, admits this year’s competition was particularly tough with healthy entries of excellent new and innovative products.
He says: “CLARIFIDE Plus were judged winners by the panel for the way the selection of animals now encompasses the Dairy Wellness Profit Index which is adding health traits when testing the new generation of dairy calf replacements.
“It’s very exciting that animals twice as healthy can be chosen – improving lifetime productivity alongside less disease incidence. In addition it is a financially sensible choice for the modern dairy farmer and a worthy winner of this award.”
The Royal Dairy Innovation Award is for research and development in the field of dairy farming and is awarded for the most practical, relevant product or service which is, or likely to be, the most significant innovation for the future of dairying from a company exhibiting at Dairy-Tech
The Award takes the form of a framed certificate signed personally by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne and is to be retained by the winning entrants.