Farmers are being advised not to sign the LIC contract for the purchase of semen. / Barry Cronin
ADVERTISEMENT
The ICBF will be advising farmers not to sign a legal contract with the Livestock Improvement Company (LIC) for purchasing semen in its current format.
Meanwhile, LIC will start informing farmers of its plan in January.
The Irish Farmers Journal exclusively revealed that New Zealand-based breeding company LIC will require farmers to sign a contract this spring before purchasing semen and if they do not, they are not allowed to purchase semen.
ADVERTISEMENT
The contract would preclude farmers selling LIC-bred animals to other AI companies for the purposes of producing semen for a period of five years.
However, at a meeting of ICBF’s audit and finance committee last week, the stance was taken to advise farmers not to sign the contract.
Co Wexford farmer and ICBF chair Michael Doran said: “Signing the current contract goes against the principle of a national breeding programme where the best progeny are tested through the Gene Ireland programme.”
The move by LIC is a clear signal that it wants to hold on to the investment it has made in breeding in New Zealand and not let other companies piggyback on New Zealand genetics.
Development
This development comes following a long period where New Zealand-bred semen has been used on some of the best Irish cows to breed top AI bulls. The Irish Farmers Journal understands that LIC will begin a farmer roadshow in the middle of January to inform farmers of its plans for the legal contracts.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
The ICBF will be advising farmers not to sign a legal contract with the Livestock Improvement Company (LIC) for purchasing semen in its current format.
Meanwhile, LIC will start informing farmers of its plan in January.
The Irish Farmers Journal exclusively revealed that New Zealand-based breeding company LIC will require farmers to sign a contract this spring before purchasing semen and if they do not, they are not allowed to purchase semen.
The contract would preclude farmers selling LIC-bred animals to other AI companies for the purposes of producing semen for a period of five years.
However, at a meeting of ICBF’s audit and finance committee last week, the stance was taken to advise farmers not to sign the contract.
Co Wexford farmer and ICBF chair Michael Doran said: “Signing the current contract goes against the principle of a national breeding programme where the best progeny are tested through the Gene Ireland programme.”
The move by LIC is a clear signal that it wants to hold on to the investment it has made in breeding in New Zealand and not let other companies piggyback on New Zealand genetics.
Development
This development comes following a long period where New Zealand-bred semen has been used on some of the best Irish cows to breed top AI bulls. The Irish Farmers Journal understands that LIC will begin a farmer roadshow in the middle of January to inform farmers of its plans for the legal contracts.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS