Semen and Heifers arrive in Pakistan
Another semen shipment landed in Pakistan in late 2023, closely followed by the second shipment of dairy heifers from Australia. HRM Dairies, Genetics Australia’s exclusive semen distributor, arranged a second shipment as demand for well-bred Australian heifers continues to grow in Pakistan. The live heifer shipments were predominately selected on Australian genomics and most were pregnant to sexed semen from bulls such as VARLEY, PILBARA and EASTERN. The shipment arrived in early February and 100% of the heifers are now settled into their new homes.
Included in the shipment were Australia Red heifers as well as Jerseys. Interest is growing for breeds other than Holstein as farmers are seeing the advantages offered by these breeds.
HRM is genomic testing all heifers, the only herd outside of Australia that is genetic testing on Australian genomics. A heifer HRM Pilbara August 1304 ranked 21st nationally on BPIg in the December 2023 ABV release. Her $BPI is $528 and will be flushed and used to continue to develop the HRM dairy herd in Pakistan.
Included in the semen shipment was a mix of conventional and sexed semen. Semen from more than 40 bulls was included in the shipment with larger quantities of Holstein bulls PILBARA, VARLEY, MAEBULL, GILES, VITTORIA and EASTERN while in the Jerseys PICKLE and STARK PP were popular as was ARBSKEETA in the Reds.
The Friesian Express docks in the early hours in Karachi with 1200 pregnant heifers on board from Australia
Heifers have adapted well in Pakistan
German shipment to be used in cross breeding
A semen shipment including all three major dairy breeds was shipped to Hamburg in Germany. Going to Hybrid Genetics, the shipment included leading bulls such as ARBSKEETA, and homozygous bulls, Jersey STARKPP and Red Holstein VITTORIA. Semen will be used in three-way crossbreeding programs promoted by Hybrid Genetics.
Udo Carstensen, owner of Hybrid Genetics in Germany, in Australia inspecting daughters and bull mothers he is importing into Germany for his three-way cross breeding programs.
Indian Delegation impressed with Australian Research
Genetics Australia participated in a recent delegation from India. Delegates from the Indian National Dairy Development Board [NDDB] and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy [DAHD] visited Australia to build and strengthen relationships between key Indian dairy stakeholders and the Australian dairy industry.
The delegation was supported by the Australian Government [DFAT and DAFF], the Australia High Commission in New Delhi and Dairy Australia. The delegation visited milk processors, dairy farmers, DataGene and DairyBio.
India has a large dairy industry and currently no health certificate has been negotiated between the two countries. There is real interest to cooperate on areas of research and the group was most impressed with the emissions work being undertaken at Ellinbank Research Centre and the presentations from researchers and staff from DataGene.
Professor Joe Jacobs explains the work Ellinbank is conducting on capturing and monitoring methane emissions.
The delegation also visited Wallacedale Jerseys at Poowong North. The Wallacedale herd is one of Australia’s leading suppliers of elite Jersey genetics and a number of bulls such as STARK PP and PICKLE, and GOLDBANDP rank high from the herd. Owner Luke Wallace outlined his breeding program and robotic milking system and the group walked through part of the herd. India has imported Jersey genetics and live bulls from Denmark and based on the quality of cows seen at Wallacedale Jerseys, the group is very keen to commence importing semen, embryos and cattle from Australia
Intrest in Australia Jerseys on the rise in the USA
Genetics Australia joined Jersey Australia along with several Australian breeders to hold a display at the World Dairy Expo [WDE] in Madison USA. Interest in Australia Jerseys continues to grow and more semen is being exported year-on-year.
Following WDE, the group visited Golden Dreams Jerseys owned by the Cline family in Decorah Iowa where they inspected an Excellent 94 AUSSIEGIOLD daughter who has subsequently been classified EX95.
Jersey Australia President Lisa Broad, Broadlin Jerseys Wonthaggi and Kerrie and Holly Anderson from Kingsville Jerseys in Drouin South attracted a number of visitors to the Jersey display.
Lynton and Lisa Broad from Broadlin Jerseys were pleased to see a EX95 daughter of their bull AUSSIEGOLD milking at Golden Dreams Jerseys in Iowa.
