"INZB will develop a New Zealand-based genetic evaluation, which will ultimately result in more efficient beef animals, which generate less greenhouse gases and are more profitable."
The new evaluation was ground breaking, because bulls of different breeds could be directly compared, Anderson said.
"Currently, each beef breed has its own evaluation, which makes genetic selection unnecessarily complicated for the farmer."
Beef + Lamb NZ Chief Executive Sam McIvor said the programme capitalised on New Zealand's world-leading skills and knowledge in sheep genetics and applied them to the beef industry.
Listen to Jamie Mackay interview MPI director general Ray Smith about the programme on The Country below:
The data showed that New Zealand's beef industry had been lagging behind on genetic progress, McIvor said.
"Not only will this give the industry better genetic tools, but a major focus of the programme is to work with commercial farmers to increase understanding and grow confidence in using genetic information to drive productivity and profitability."
The programme could also be beneficial for New Zealand's dairy farmers, McIvor said.
"With these new production-focused genetic selection tools, dairy farmers will be able to select semen from beef bulls for Artificial Insemination in their herds, more confident that they will have shorter gestation, easy calving and produce more valuable calves."
The programme is being funded 60 per cent by Beef + Lamb New Zealand and 40 per cent by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
