Minister Smith Opens New Embryo Transfer Facility

IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith has officially opened Bovi Genetics, a new state of the art Embryo Transfer Unit at Loughduff, County Cavan.
calendar icon 5 October 2010
clock icon 2 minute read

The Minister congratulated Mr Eddie Lynch and his staff on the significant investment made in establishing this new venture.

Embryo transfer technology is a tool that can contribute to expediting genetic improvement thus enhancing profitability in the dairy and beef sectors. It can also contribute to achieving the goals set out in the Food Harvest 2020 Report which has set ambitious targets for growing the dairy and beef sectors.

The new facilities have been approved by the Department for international trade in accordance with the relevant EU Animal Health legislation. The Minister said that he is "keen to develop a strong market for Irish genetic material and is working with Bord Bia to develop trade links and protocols with a number of countries". Initial progress has seen market access achieved to the Chinese market for Irish bovine semen.

The Minister said, in addition, "that the Beef Expo 2010 event, which takes place over next weekend and which I am pleased that my Department is in a position to support, will highlight the excellence of the Irish Cattle Breeding Industry to an audience of key international visitors. It is vital that we continue to develop and promote our cattle breeding industry both at home and abroad. Output of dairy and beef production is valued at almost €3 billion annually to the national economy".

The Minister concluded by wishing the team at Bovi Genetics every success in their new venture.

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