Semen Exports Up 17 Per Cent
AUSTRIA – Semen exports increased by 17 per cent last year, which the national cattle breeders association has said is a good sign for a crucial part of the industry.
30 July 2013
1 minute read
In 2012 a total of 1.392 million doses of semen were sold, including 593,889 units to foreign countries.
Exports were primarily made up of Simmental stock (93 per cent) with the remainder comprising Brown Swiss and Pinzgauer genetics.
The Central Association of Austrian Cattle Breeders said that genetic selection and breed development underpins the international competitiveness of the Austrian cattle industry.
The association said recent developments in Austrian genomics are attributable to the five, Intra-Community Trade approved specialist ovum and sperm collection centres.
A wider impact is being felt onfarm with the number of farmers ‘self-fertilising’ Eigenbestandsbesamer increasing from 4,500 in 2003 to 8,000 by 2013.
Domestic inseminations comprised 963,000 Simmental, 118,000 Holstein, 71,000 Brown Swiss and 117,000 Belgian Blue straws.
Over 50,000 of these inseminations were carried out by Fleckvieh bull ‘Will’ with 'RS Rumgo' and 'Romario' both either side of 20,000 doses.
‘Payssli’ was the premier Brown Swiss bull last year selling 8,000 straws.
TheCattleSite News Desk
