Beef + Lamb New Zealand is proposing to merge three of its genetic databases into a single $8.8 million tool.

The proposal will mean amalgamating Ovita, Sheep Improvement Ltd (SIL) and the Central Progeny Test (CPT) into a new entity called Beef + Lamb Genetics.

The levy-funded farmer organisation has been working on this project for 15 months, the general manager of Beef + Lamb's farm programme, Richard Wakelin, said.

It will need farmer approval, to be sought in a vote at the organisation's annual meeting in November.

Beef + Lamb hoped to have it up and running by January, Wakelin said.

Beef + Lamb would put up $2.89m and an additional $1.5m would come from industry investors, Wakelin said.

Beef + Lamb has also applied to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for funding of $4.4m.

"It will be an $8.8m per annum investment for five years," Wakelin said.

Northern North Island director James Parsons said Beef + Lamb spent about $400,000 a year on SIL and the CPT.

About 80 per cent of rams sold by ram breeders are entered into the SIL database, which determines estimated breeding values and other data farmers see in sale catalogues when they buy a ram.

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Stock genetics databases to be merged

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