The latest chapter is unfolding in the long-running saga of who runs the dairy industry's animal evaluation system.
Livestock breeding and genetics co-operative Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) has been operating the system on behalf of the dairy industry.
LIC developed the database of herd testing and mating records for the country's dairy cows in the 1980s.
But an independent review three years ago recommended transferring it to an industry good body, Dairy NZ.
In the latest step in that process, the two bodies have signed a formal agreement setting out the conditions for transferring LIC's core database to DairyNZ.
The move still requires a law change to take effect and the new arrangement is expected to be operating from 2015.
LIC will still own a much larger commercial database, which it has developed.
