A rift within the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) over proposals to establish an IVF nucleus herd escalated over the weekend when a group of breeders issued a public statement condemning the move.
The concerned members of the IHFA expressed “deep concern” regarding what it claimed was the “secrecy, cost and direction of the proposed GenEireann nucleus herd project”.
The statement claimed that the initiative fundamentally altered “the association’s role and purpose without proper consultation or approval”.
“The GenEireann proposal involves IVF breeding using SRM [supplementary registered males - non-pedigree] bulls and commercial embryos - a direct contradiction of [the] IHFA’s core mission,” the opponents of the nucleus herd proposal claimed.
Focus
The statement added that the IHFA’s focus should be on “pedigree improvement”.
It is unclear how many breeders the concerned members of the IHFA represents.
In recent weeks, IHFA sources told the Irish Farmers Journal that the nucleus herd proposals were in the early stages of assessment and that the initiative was not a joint venture.
However, the opponents of the plan claimed that the IHFA has engaged with two other organisations regarding the proposal and that “meetings have taken place to discuss operational structures, costs and management plans”.
The GenEireann project risks wasting members’ money, weakening the association’s pedigree focus and eroding trust across the dairy breeding community
The concerned IHFA members claimed that the initial investment in GenEireann could “exceed €1.5m”, with annual operating costs put at €250,000 to €300,000.
“The GenEireann project risks wasting members’ money, weakening the association’s pedigree focus and eroding trust across the dairy breeding community,” the opponents maintained.
The concerned IHFA members claimed that the GenEireann project would leave clubs “under-funded and unsupported” as resources were redirected away from member programmes.
An extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the IHFA is to be called to discuss the GenEireann project.
Those opposed to the nucleus herd said the EGM must be held before 21 December.
“Members now demand full transparency, accountability and a return to the principles upon which [the] IHFA was founded,” they stated.
IHFA response
An IHFA spokesman told the Irish Farmers Journal that he had not seen the statement from the concerned breeders and therefore could not comment on its contents.
However, the spokesman confirmed that a request for an EGM had been received and that the IHFA board was “working on ratifying it”.
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Holstein-Friesian EGM to thrash out nucleus herd differences
A rift within the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) over proposals to establish an IVF nucleus herd escalated over the weekend when a group of breeders issued a public statement condemning the move.
The concerned members of the IHFA expressed “deep concern” regarding what it claimed was the “secrecy, cost and direction of the proposed GenEireann nucleus herd project”.
The statement claimed that the initiative fundamentally altered “the association’s role and purpose without proper consultation or approval”.
“The GenEireann proposal involves IVF breeding using SRM [supplementary registered males - non-pedigree] bulls and commercial embryos - a direct contradiction of [the] IHFA’s core mission,” the opponents of the nucleus herd proposal claimed.
Focus
The statement added that the IHFA’s focus should be on “pedigree improvement”.
It is unclear how many breeders the concerned members of the IHFA represents.
In recent weeks, IHFA sources told the Irish Farmers Journal that the nucleus herd proposals were in the early stages of assessment and that the initiative was not a joint venture.
However, the opponents of the plan claimed that the IHFA has engaged with two other organisations regarding the proposal and that “meetings have taken place to discuss operational structures, costs and management plans”.
The GenEireann project risks wasting members’ money, weakening the association’s pedigree focus and eroding trust across the dairy breeding community
The concerned IHFA members claimed that the initial investment in GenEireann could “exceed €1.5m”, with annual operating costs put at €250,000 to €300,000.
“The GenEireann project risks wasting members’ money, weakening the association’s pedigree focus and eroding trust across the dairy breeding community,” the opponents maintained.
The concerned IHFA members claimed that the GenEireann project would leave clubs “under-funded and unsupported” as resources were redirected away from member programmes.
An extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the IHFA is to be called to discuss the GenEireann project.
Those opposed to the nucleus herd said the EGM must be held before 21 December.
“Members now demand full transparency, accountability and a return to the principles upon which [the] IHFA was founded,” they stated.
IHFA response
An IHFA spokesman told the Irish Farmers Journal that he had not seen the statement from the concerned breeders and therefore could not comment on its contents.
However, the spokesman confirmed that a request for an EGM had been received and that the IHFA board was “working on ratifying it”.
Read more
Holstein-Friesian EGM to thrash out nucleus herd differences
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