The IFA and ICMSA have come out this week strongly suggesting the AI companies need, at the very least, to press pause on the proposal that AI companies have the first call on the intellectual property rights on some valuable bull and heifer calves, as opposed to the farmer. Given the IFA participation on the board of ICBF, who are facilitating the initiative, the move by the farm organisations merits attention. Also, the fact that farmers sit on the governance boards of Munster, Progressive and Dovea, means there is at the very least some misunderstanding or uncertainty among farmers themselves.
The initiative may well be the right move long-term and may only be impacting a fraction of farmers in any one year, but the legal principle and potential value destruction for the farmer, after years of breeding, is a lot to give up without a discussion and proper clarity.
Perhaps if the initiative had been floated or launched last October, it might have had time to settle and gain momentum.
ADVERTISEMENT
Already some farmers are signing up cows to contract matings as individuals, however this industry-wide initiative is more far reaching and fundamental. See more on pages 4 and 32.
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 IFA and ICMSA have come out this week strongly suggesting the AI companies need, at the very least, to press pause on the proposal that AI companies have the first call on the intellectual property rights on some valuable bull and heifer calves, as opposed to the farmer. Given the IFA participation on the board of ICBF, who are facilitating the initiative, the move by the farm organisations merits attention. Also, the fact that farmers sit on the governance boards of Munster, Progressive and Dovea, means there is at the very least some misunderstanding or uncertainty among farmers themselves.
The initiative may well be the right move long-term and may only be impacting a fraction of farmers in any one year, but the legal principle and potential value destruction for the farmer, after years of breeding, is a lot to give up without a discussion and proper clarity.
Perhaps if the initiative had been floated or launched last October, it might have had time to settle and gain momentum.
Already some farmers are signing up cows to contract matings as individuals, however this industry-wide initiative is more far reaching and fundamental. See more on pages 4 and 32.
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