Friday, March 29, 2024

Bull breeder strikes Irish deal

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A Canterbury Hereford stud has sold semen from one of its bulls to Ireland now Tararua Breeding Centre is licensed to collect and export bull beef semen to Europe.
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Manager Robyn How said since 2007 no beef semen could be collected or exported to the Europe because with CRV and LIC were the only centres licensed for that and they used only their own dairy bulls.

There had been a lot of interest in getting beef semen into the EU but quarantine restrictions meant it had to come from a standalone centre and that was costly.

However, she was not put off.

“After a lot of pestering and some nagging by clients, when an opportunity arose, I decided to set up an EU centre to cater for the beef industry as well as private dairy bulls for export to the EU.”

That prompted Silverstream Charolais stud, which also produces Hereford bulls, to act.

Silverstream’s Anna Fisher said three years ago she was visited by a group of Irish Hereford breeders touring New Zealand and Australia looking at bulls. 

The group was impressed by the stud’s bull Gay Olympus but there was no licensed centre to collect semen for export to the EU so the opportunity was lost.

Gay Olympus has since died but Silverstream bred this son, Pute Nascar N13.

Fisher and her husband Brent had kept the Irish group’s contact details and, after learning the Tararua centre is now licensed, got in touch, sending a video and photos of the bull along with EBV and pedigree details.

The Irish were keen so Pute Nascar N13 is now at the Woodville centre, where he will spend about four months. 

Fisher said the Irish group is looking for genetics from outside Ireland and is after a bull with a good constitution and natural toughness.

Silverstream has had an increase in inquiries from overseas recently for its Charolais and Herefords. 

“They are looking for that genuine NZ hardy type of animal that will perform well in their overseas environments. 

‘“There are many opportunities for NZ genetics of any breed that can offer this type of animal as overseas breeders are demanding more genetics from a grass-fed system.”

Silverstream is now looking at other opportunities in the EU for Nascar and other bull semen.

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