Tensions between Eurogene/LIC and ICBF intensified this week as new revelations about existing NCBC Keystone contracts emerged.

It appears these contracts last for three years and are transferable should any females be sold from contracted herds.

Keystone is a breeding programme operated by the National Cattle Breeding Centre (NCBC), owned by Progressive Genetics and Munster AI. Both have representatives on the ICBF board. It includes rolling contracts for 4,000 of the best Irish cows.

On Wednesday, Eurogene’s Sam Campbell confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that Eurogene has withdrawn from ICBF’s Gene Ireland young bull testing programme.

Meanwhile, the threat of legal action by Eurogene/LIC still hangs over the ICBF given the fallout after the deal brokered on the LIC contract-for- semen issue.

The moves come amid revelations that existing Keystone contracts with 33 farmers in Ireland contain details similar to what LIC was trying to establish.

While the Keystone contracts are rolling one-year contracts, the Irish Farmers Journal understands the conditions of the contract apply for three years.

Also, if females are sold from the contracted herd, the herd owner must make the purchaser aware of the existence of the contract. The NCBC was unavailable for comment.

Review to take place

Reading the contract, it appears calf registration details of Keystone stock are only sent to NCBC by the ICBF for the duration of the agreement. Reacting to the revelations on Keystone contracts, ICBF chair Michael Doran said: “In light of the recent debate over contracts and the various types of contract that now seem to be in place here in Ireland, I feel there needs to be an immediate full review undertaken.

"This should include implications they [the contracts] may have on a farmer’s rights in relation to his/her animals or on the national breeding programme.”

Read more

Both sides in the LIC ICBF standoff

The farm data and ownership revolution