Breeding Bull Semen
Austrian veterinarian Franz shows fresh diluted semen of breeding bull Wille at an artificial insemination centre in the village of Hohenzell, Upper Austria April 9, 2013. The centre exports cattle semen to more than 52 countries worldwide. Picture taken April 9, 2013. Reuters

Australia held successful negotiations with Chile, Colombia and Mexico to expand animal genetic material exports. This development represents growth in global markets for Australia, said Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.

With the expansion, Aussie exporters could ship goat and sheep semen and embryos to Colombia. To Chile, they could export bovine semen. The negotiations permit producers to export all major categories of ruminant genetics – cattle, sheep and goat embryos and semen – to the two markets.

Canberra continues to talk with Mexico for greater access for other ruminant genetics. The wider market is expected to further improve the $2.4 million contribution of the genetic material export industry to the Australian economy, Joyce said.

The $2.4 million worth of exports is equivalent to 235 genetic material consignments, broken down into 7,314 embryos and 312,258 semen straws. Besides genetic materials, Aussie exporters also shipped kangaroo meet to Peru, table grapes to Japan, mangoes and lychees to the US and breeder deer to Malaysia.

The figures, however, pale in comparison to semen exports of other nations. For instance, Business Insider reports that US exports of bovine semen was worth $142 million in 2012, while for the same year, Canada’s export was $88 million.

However, having a total genetics approach by Australia’s seedstock and live heifer exporters could hit $326 million year, estimates cattle industry experts.

Joyce adds, “In addition to free trade agreements signed with three of our biggest trading partners, this government has achieved 42 key market access gains or restorations of suspended markets, and 14 key market access improvements or actions to maintain market access in the agriculture portfolio.”

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