Borne out of a passion for improving our herd through a robust genetics strategy, we recognised a gap in the market for an independent, tailored approach to herd improvement.

In just six short years,

we elevated our herd to #54 on BW and #16 on PW in New Zealand. This achievement stemmed from focused breeding for specific traits, rigorous culling based on performance, and strategic livestock transactions. Along the way, we've accumulated experiences and insights that we're eager to share to support your own journey toward herd improvement.

  • Our approach is simple.

  • We listen.

  • We understand.

  • We've been there.

  • We're all in - for you and your herd.

For a simple, actionable ‘sanity-check’ of your animals and herd improvement opportunities try our 90-minute Wingman Warrant of Fitness ($300+ GST) review of your MINDA data.

We dissect your herd from every angle imaginable — examining breed splits, live weight, fertility, udders; exploring every BV aspect.

We chase every rabbit down every hole.

We start by reviewing your herd’s data

What you get in return…

We provide you with a 2-3 page high level report and an online discussion uncovering actionable insights and suggesting potential next steps to enhance your herd's performance.

Our goal is to identify the exceptional individuals in your herd, comprehend their traits, and selectively breed from them.

“I really enjoyed the Wingman Warrant of Fitness, it’s definitely been money well spent.”
— Raelene Williams, Hauraki Plains

A bull team based on minimums

Together, we identify valuable traits for your herd and form a bull team that meets or exceeds these criteria.

A customised team based on minimums excludes bulls who won't drive your herd forward.

Trait Value

Source: Wingman Bull Selection Example

0.5 = Minimum Value

Our industry has moved from growth.

To efficiency.

Individual cows are more important than ever.

Peak cow numbers occurred in 2014.

During a growth phase in the NZ dairy industry, there was an emphasis on increasing the quantity rather than the quality of dairy cows.

Businesses focused on delivering products at scale and volume. They also tended to implement one-size-fits-most solutions that catered to the majority of farmers' needs.

Source: Stats NZ Agricultural Production Survey

The Wingman approach.

  • Strategic Goals

    Understand you, your herd, your farm and your farm system.

  • Operational Plan

    Tailored mating plans.

  • Tactical Plan

    Practical implementation.

How we do it.

  • Trawling through your herd data and identifying your freaks.

    Looking at both herd-level and individual traits and selecting bulls to either optimise or correct these.

    Identifying current state and desired future state of your herd.

  • Working out where the opportunities lie to improve your herd by either not mating your poorer cows to a quality bull, or simply selling them to buy better ones!

    This can be done across multiple age groups - calves, in-calf heifers, mixed age cows.

  • What extra value can we create in your farm business by being more strategic about stock sales e.g. export heifers, yearling AB, dairy beef.

  • Helping you to work out a 2-3 year plan to exit out of your herd successfully, taking into account age structure, likely rejection rate, herd marketability, desirable/undesirable traits etc.

Farmers’ leading the way.

  • “Wingman can add and the finer details I knew weren’t in my tool kit.”

    Cole Townsend

  • “Trusting you on this one - I'm not happy about the status quo.”

    Wynn Brown

  • "Wingman confirmed we are on the right track with our breeding decisions for our farm system."

    Mark Wilson

  • "The impact an independent perspective can provide to your herd delivers excellent return on investment."

    Rhys Roberts, Align Farms

Wingman numbers.

15,350+ cows

23 herds

26 different bulls

Est. June 2024

Your Wingman Team