Jim Conroy 

Jim was speaking at the presentation of the South Eastern Australia finals of the Semex-Holstein Australia Holstein On-Farm competition at Melton last week. He had just returned from his annual trip to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Canada (RAWF), where he met with Semex colleagues from around the globe.

The messages he carried home included his sexed semen warning and the value of Australia’s registered cattle.

“There were about 15 of us in this particular meeting in Canada,” Jim said. “And my equivalent from the US said that the best sale opportunity that a US dairyman had today for his 16-week-old pedigree Holstein heifers is for them to be bought by a feedlot owner to be fattened and killed.

“That is a consequence of 1.5 million doses of sexed semen being used in the US. While sexed semen is an opportunity and a wonderful product, it can also lead to problems and we all know that over production is never a good scene.

“That was a sad situation and we do not want that to happen here in Australia. So, I urge you to use sexed semen to make better animals – not more of them.”

Jim went on to remind producers that in Australia the demand for high-end cattle remained strong and a tangible value-adding opportunity for its dairy farmers.

“It hasn’t been the easiest year in our times. But despite all that – what we’re here today to celebrate is the development of high profile cattle. That market has not changed anywhere in the world. I’ve never had anyone that was buying cattle ask for the ugly ones – they always want the nice ones.

“There is no let-up for quality, registered Holstein heifers in this country for export. Even yesterday I was asked to find 500 heifers for export to Fiji and the gentleman I was speaking to didn’t want ugly ones. So, I encourage everyone that through all the challenges to remember that this market is still there and if it’s handled correctly, it will always be there.”

Semex is the exclusive distributor of livestock genetics marketed by the Semex Alliance, the world’s largest artificial breeding organisation. Although traditionally associated with Canadian genetics, Semex now conducts formal progeny testing programs throughout the world, including Canada, US, Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

For more information:
Jim Conroy
General Manager
Semex Australia Limited
Office: (03) 9743-0344
Mobile: 0418 107 863
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Web: www.semex.com.au