We have been operating a bureau for Sheep Improvement Limited from Southland, New Zealand since 1 January 2001. We aim to provide high quality, accurate and efficient sheep recording services in a professional and friendly manner to breeders throughout the world.
By working closely with each individual breeder, we determine what their recording needs are and then do our utmost to provide the best possible service. We aim for a very high degree of accuracy by double-checking all entries into the SIL database, ensuring that each set of data is as complete as possible. Reports are tailor made according to the breeder’s requests, and are also double checked before being sent out. We aim to issue reports within a maximum of six days of receiving new data, although they are often returned within three days, and sometimes overnight. Ram cards for use when selling rams are available on request.
GeneCapture, our optional hand held datalogger and programme enables breeders to capture data accurately in the field, and has proved to greatly reduce recording errors while saving breeders hours of time. Data is transferred electronically, adding greater speed and efficiency to our services also. Therefore, we can offer breeders using GeneCapture to record all their data a 20% discount on our services.
Other forms of electronic transfer are also accepted, and a discount negotiated.
Many of our breeders choose to use a manual data collection system. These breeders often have less than 250 recorded ewes, are more comfortable with a pen and paper rather than electronic gadgets. We are pleased to issue numbered prelists so that the risk of duplicates and recording errors is minimised.
There are three of us in our SIL Bureau team. Julia Aspinall is the owner and manager of Genetic Gains Limited, and works from the company office at her home in Invercargill. Julia has been involved with the genetic improvement of sheep since 1987, and welcomes enquiries of a technical nature. She writes three newsletters per year with “hot tips” for our SIL Bureau breeders. Wendy Ophuis handles all our data inputs for the SIL database. Wendy has been involved with sheep recording since 1992, and operates from her home in Winton. Her efficiency and experience is a huge asset to our bureau. Janene Greig prepares all our reports. Janene joined our team in 2001 with a strong background in data handling and customer service, and contributes a huge amount to the efficiency of our bureau.
We are committed to working with SIL to make the animal recording process as user friendly as possible, and also offer a complete genetics package including ram semen collection, processing, storage, imports, exports and marketing as well as Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer services.
We can be contacted at:
Genetic Gains Ltd., P O Box 7102, Invercargill
Ph: 03 216 3455 FAX 03 216 3405 Cell 027 432 0285
Email: julia@genetic-gains.co.nz Web: www.genetic-gains.co.nz