Canada invests in dairy genetics

The Canadian government will spend US$1.22 million to increase international sales of dairy genetics.

The fund will be used by the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association to start initiatives to export dairy cattle, embryos and semen while raising international awareness of Canadian dairy genetic programmes.

The association works with cattle, embryo and semen exporters as well as breeding associations to increase market access and promote animal health.

Canadian dairy genetic exports reached US$177.8 million in 2008, a 73% increase from the previous year. Exports of live animals have been restricted since 2003 when the discovery of mad cow disease in Canada's closed borders.

Dairy exports resumed in spring 2007 with a large shipment of heifers to Barbados and Russia.

The funding comes from the federal AgriMarketing programme, a four-year US$88 million initiative to help Canadian producers and processors increase exports and develop long-term international market development programmes.