Sustainable Science In Action At Fieldays© 2025

Te Kunenga ki
Pūrehuroa Massey University returns to Fieldays® with a
future-focused, solution-driven theme, showcasing research
that delivers practical advancements in agricultural
efficiency, sustainability and longevity.

Visit us at
the Mystery Creek Pavilion (site PE51) from 11-14 June to
see how Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University is
shaping the future of farming and how you can be part of
it.

Laying the genetic groundwork for the future of
Aotearoa New Zealand’s working dogs

Right Dog for
the Job is a three-year research project led by Massey
University, in collaboration with industry partners
including Pāmu and Focus Genetics. The project is co-funded
by the Ministry of Primary Industries through the
Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund and supported by
Ancestry.com. The goal? To better understand the genetics of
New Zealand’s unique working dogs and lay the foundation
for future genetic testing and selection tools.

The
project began with New Zealand’s first large-scale genetic
study of working dogs, sequencing the genomes of 249
Huntaways, Heading Dogs and crossbreds. This revealed over
19 million DNA variants, a vital first step in uncovering
how genetics influence health and
performance.

Researchers are now analysing the
frequency of potentially harmful recessive variants,
comparing them to those known in overseas breeds. This work
supports more informed breeding decisions and aims to
improve the health, working ability and longevity of our
working dogs.

Of nearly 400 known variants linked to
health or physical traits in other breeds, 27 were found in
the dogs sampled with five appearing at high enough
frequency to warrant further testing. Learn
more about the five DNA
variants.

Professor Matt Littlejohn
and members of the research team will be at Fieldays to
share insights into the project and demonstrate how
selective breeding can support healthier, more capable
working dogs. Visitors can even get hands-on with an
interactive ‘Tinder for working dogs’ experience, where
they’ll be tasked to identify the healthiest breeding
matches based on genetic compatibility. Dog whistles will be
up for grabs for successful participants, along with the
chance to win a genetics kit, thanks to
Ancestry.com.

As the project moves into
its next phase, including collecting more DNA samples and
collaborating with farmers and vets to track health and
performance traits, Professor Littlejohn says connecting
with the farming community is key.

“The long term aim
is to enable future tools for breeders and dog owners, not
just to avoid genetic disease but to select for the traits
that really matter on farm. If the research can help pick
the best dog for the job, it will make a real difference to
farm efficiency and the wellbeing of both dog and
handler.”

Where culture uplifts innovation:
packaging that expands with
purpose

Bringing together
contemporary Māori design and engineering science has been
the focus of the Kōwhaiwhai
Pūtoi Koiora (auxetic kōwhaiwhai) packaging project, a
collaborative effort between our College of Creative Arts
and College of Sciences.

The fruit packaging uses an
auxetic design, a material that expands rather than
contracts when stretched, unlike conventional materials.
Developed as part of a Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) Smart Ideas project, a key objective was
to create packaging that not only protects delicate
horticultural products more effectively but also celebrates
Māori culture. Kōwhaiwhai patterns are woven into the
design, symbolising protection and care, signifying that
what lies within is taonga (treasure).

Packaging
expert Dr Eli Gray-Stuart explains that the moulded tray
suspends the fruit off the base of the box, working in
tandem with the auxetic structure to offer an added layer of
protection.

“The goal of this packaging is twofold.
First, it minimises damage to the fruit, which can reduce
their saleability and contribute to food waste. The auxetic
material absorbs and distributes impact more evenly,
moulding around the product to protect it during transport.
Second, the Kōwhaiwhai Pūtoi Koiora design integrates
cultural and company values and narratives into a visually
compelling and sustainable packaging solution.”

The
packaging has already been used successfully by Māori
Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated at their collaborative
marketing launch in Hawaii last year. The team hopes to move
toward commercial production through future
partnerships.

Visitors to Fieldays can explore
demonstrations and prototypes at Massey’s stand, where Dr
Gray-Stuart will be on hand to share more about the
development process and the cultural and scientific thinking
behind the final product. Visitors interested in the project
will have the chance to take home a keepsake featuring the
auxetic kōwhaiwhai packaging
material.

Mitigating the cost of shearing
through self-shedding
sheep

With many farmers finding that
the price of wool no longer offsets the cost of shearing,
what was once a profitable process is now an increasing
expense.

To explore alternatives, a long-term project
at Massey’s Riverside Farm in Wairarapa is investigating
the viability of self-shedding sheep, specifically
Wiltshires which naturally shed their fleece once a year.
The research has two key aims: first, to model the
profitability of transitioning from traditional Romney sheep
to self-shedding Wiltshires, and second, to conduct a
multi-year flock study tracking the production and
performance of the sheep as the flock is gradually bred
towards Wiltshire genetics. Read
about the background of the self-shedding sheep
project.

Running since 2020, the project has
already yielded promising insights. By collecting animal
performance health and wool data from sheep from varying
proportions of Wiltshire to compare with the original
Romney-type sheep, the study aims to better understand the
genetic control of shedding. This study will continue to
collect production data to support farmer decision making
for the future of their flocks. The project will extend
until 2028.

Dr Nick Sneddon and his team will be
sharing more about the project at Fieldays, including its
findings and what they could mean for the future of farming
in New Zealand.

“We’ve noticed a range of how much
shedding the sheep in our trial will do, and that variation
is really useful for to selecting the next generation.
Understanding the drivers of these differences means farmers
can move more quickly toward a fully shedding flock, while
still keeping the other important traits they value in their
non-shedding sheep. We’re also digging into the genetics
behind self-shedding. The goal is to eventually develop a
genetic test so we can easily identify which sheep carry the
right genes,” he says.

Discover your future
with Massey

Massey experts
will also feature at the MPI Science for Farmers site,
providing updates on Whenua Haumanu, New Zealand’s most
comprehensive regenerative and pastoral agriculture research
programme, and the Catchment Solutions project, which builds
capability to improve freshwater outcomes. Our experts will
be on hand all week to discuss the latest in these projects,
and how farmers, communities and others can get involved.
Programme Leader Professor Danny Donaghy will be giving an
informative talk on diverse pastures on Thursday 12 June at
9.30am at the MPI Science for Farmers site.

You can
also catch Bachelor of Agriculture Science alumna and KS
Agri consultant Nerissa Edwards at the Wāhine toa o te
Whenua – Young Leaders panel discussion, taking place at
site E38 on Thursday 12 June from 10:30 to 11:30am. The
panel provides a platform for young female leaders in the
food and fibre sector to share their experiences and
highlight the diverse range of roles
available.

Academic and Future Student Advisors will
be available throughout the four days to answer
course-related questions and connect visitors with study and
career opportunities. With over 150
qualifications and degrees on offer across five
colleges, our advisors can set you on the right course for
your success.

Get your
tickets for Fieldays® 2025 here:
https://tickets.fieldays.co.nz/tickets/

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