New B+LNZ Genetics General Manager appointed

Friday 4th October 2019

Dan Brier has been appointed Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Genetics new General Manager.

As well as General Manager for B+LNZ Genetics, Dan is B+LNZ's General Manager Farming Excellence – a role which encompasses research, sector capability, the Future Farm programme, product development and extension design.

B+LNZ Genetics was incorporated into the wider B+LNZ organisation on October 1, but will remain a distinct Dunedin-based business unit within the wider organisation. B+LNZ’s Sector Science Strategy Manager Suzi Keeling will also be involved with the unit.

B+LNZ Genetics will continue to provide genetic services to breeders and commercial farmers.

Dan says that the decision to appoint him as the GM of B+LNZ Genetics was to ensure its science programmes meshed with B+LNZ’s wider science objectives, while still retaining a focus on its genetics clients.

“Over the next six months the team will be focusing on the on-going progeny tests in sheep, beef and dairy beef, genetic evaluations and the roll-out of the new nProve tool.”

Dan grew up on sheep and beef properties in Coromandel and the Northern King Country before training as a veterinarian.

He started his working career as a large animal vet in Te Awamutu and later Gisborne. After six years as a vet, Dan and his then young family began sheep and beef farming near Te Awamutu. In 2013, he took up a role at Landcorp/Pamu overseeing the organisation’s northern and eastern North Island sheep and beef properties.

“As a farmer and vet, I see genetics and farm systems as key to our farming success and, in the complex world ahead, they will only become more important.I’m looking forward to working with the B+LNZ Genetics team and breeders to ensure commercial farmers have the tools they need to make good decisions for their farming operations.”

For more information contact:
Dan Brier: dan.brier@beeflambnz.com