New Zealand-based breeding company Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) is committed to introducing new legal contracts this spring.

The Irish Farmers Journal exclusively revealed in December that this contract would effectively mean farmers could not sell a resulting bull calf to other AI companies that could be used in competition against LIC semen sales.

Despite pressure from farmers and industry to reconsider this new development, LIC International boss Mark Ryder explained the reasoning behind the development, at an LIC/Eurogene roadshow in Meath on Tuesday.

“New Zealand quarantine regulations have changed. We now only have to have bulls in quarantine for 30 days before exporting semen.

“This means the very best sires from New Zealand can be used in Ireland before they are available in New Zealand.

“Our shareholders allow this, but they need some IP protection. We are here in Ireland to breed profitable cows for Irish farmers and not top bulls for other AI companies,” he said.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that negotiations with some industry stakeholders are continuing to try and look at options that may remove some potentially very negative consequences for the Irish dairy industry.

One option might be a waiver, allowing Irish AI companies test a certain number of sires with New Zealand bloodlines.