SEMEX EXPORTS RECORD NUMBER OF EMBRYOS An Australian Perspective
- By Dianna Malcolm, Semex CHOOSING Australia
Unprecedented interest in elite North American embryos is intensifying the registered cattle market in Australia and around the world, pushing Semex’s embryo exports to record levels. Based on the recent annual report by the Canadian Embryo Transfer Association, Semex exports 60% of all Canadian dairy embryos, an increase of 7.1% increase over Semex’s exported percentage in 2009. In Australia, Semex is the busy hub for embryo importations. Its sales have trebled since 2006 and this year’s trading has included some critical advantages and success stories for Australian buyers. It has deepened their commitment and made the world sit up and take notice. Bouyant elite cattle prices continue Down Under with an Australasian record price being broken in May at $49,000 AUD for a 10-month-old Wilcoxview Jasper daughter. The other key component is Australia’s strong dollar, the immediacy of the internet, with the connections and knowledge it naturally brings, genomics and an increasing number of affordable quality embryos. There are also now well-documented success stories within Australia of animals born from embryos, which has
MATING SIRES
highlighted the investment opportunities Paradise EX-96-2E DOM 3*. and the truth in the callarrival from Australia’s Since the of genomics, have had proving “There breeders are now many examples celebrated auctioneer Brian Leslie that several choices when selecting mating the world is whole sires: lot ‘closer’ than it was buyers should, ‘Buy the best and breed years ago,” Dann said. “I was extremely ‘em better!’. impressed with the professionalism and
1) Bulls with first crop daughters; typically, these
In January 2011, Semex’s Manager of outstanding quality of cattle during my bulls are five to nine years of age and were first International Embryo Sales Dann Brady, last Australian trip. And they just keep anytime thebetter!” last proof round and who is basedproven out of Semex’s head between office getting in Guelph, Ontario, visited Australia’s a proof round four years ago “I am always impressed with the premier show, International Dairy Week outstanding older cows in Australia. (IDW) to speak with Australian breeders Whether it be at the show or within 2) Bulls which now have a lot of second crop of and staff. It was his second visit in five IDW is of oneage of theand best and can daughters, are at leastherds. 10 years years. certainly be considered a prime event
typically have hundreds or thousands of daughters on the international show calendar.”
Dann said embryos have undoubtedly in production helped Australia onto the world stage.
The Semex Spectacular Sale, held at “We’ve seen embryos be one of ... if IDW every January, is the first and the 3) Baffordable ulls thatway do for not have daughters milk not THE most buyers highest profile in cattle saleyet in thebut country. around the world getgenomic in on theseevaluation; It is accepted as Australia’s haveto a typically, thesebarometer bulls great familiesare andone have to thethree possibility priceswe can be years for of what agetop-flight and atcattle Semex of great results within their own herd, in expected to achieve throughout the year. call them Genomax™ bulls their own country,” Dann said. “We did a quick calculation, and in the The most glaring Australian example is the 2010 IDW Grand Champion, Dryfield Dundee Paradise. Paradise was originally bought within a package of 10 embryos through Semex by Colin Steel at Numurkah, in northern Victoria. He had three heifers and three bulls born from Miss Paradise Presence VG89-2YR 3* who was the 2005 Reserve All-Canadian Sr. 2 Yr Old, a Silky Gibson daughter of the World Dairy Expo Champion Vandyk-K Integrity
IDW sale this year there were seven calves sold in the sale that Semex had sold as embryos,” Dann said. “They averaged $12,214 – $4000 AUD above the sale average of $8400 AUD.”
“We deal with a large number of countries around the world and each of them has their specific requirements,” he said. “And then of course within a country you have all different types
“There are now many examples proving the world is whole lot ‘closer’ than it was years ago.”
8