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New Zealand breeding company Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) has this week announced it will start operating a membership-type arrangement with clients in the coming weeks.
Instead of operating legal agreements or contracts as proposed last spring, LIC has now decided that farmers who use LIC elite sires will become “Premier Club” members, gaining access to top sires and exclusive entry to competitions.
No other details of the terms and conditions are available yet.
Mark Ryder said: “We have worked closely with the Irish industry and with LIC in New Zealand to ensure what we are offering is in the best interests of Irish farmers.
This is more than just straws, it’s about support and long-term relationships, while protecting the investment we make in New Zealand and Ireland.
Market protection
Last spring, LIC proposed it was going to introduce contracts that would limit the sale of bull calves to other AI companies for certain top sires.
This would have helped LIC protect its home market from sons of top sires that potentially could be sold against them globally.
Recent changes to EU regulations now allow New Zealand sires to be exported after 30 days of quarantine, allowing the best straws from the best sires in New Zealand to be used globally.
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