Semenstore, the e-commerce company, has announced a significant export of semen from five UK Limousin bulls to Australia. The semen, which arrived in Australia in November, was sold to Tim Keys for his Keystone Genetics breeding business based in North East Victoria.
The order included the UK’s highest priced bull sold at auction, the £126,000 Dolcorsllwyn Fabio. Fabio, a Fieldson Alfy son and out of Dolcorsllwyn Alwen, was purchased in February 2012 by Messrs Jenkinson for their Whinfellpark herd at Clifton Moor, Penrith for the UK all-breeds record price.
Other bulls in the order included the 38,000gns Ampertaine Foreman, a Wilodge Cerberus son, along with the French-bred bulls Bahut and Ulm. Semen from these bulls is offered by Joe Rafferty, JCG Bloom & Son and Peadar Hughes respectively. The Bahut semen is the second consignment from this bull to head to Keystone Genetics.
Going with the order was a quantity of semen from Loosebeare Fantastic. Bred by EW Quick & Son, Crediton, Devon, this July 2010-born bull is by the prolific 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic, out of Loosebeare Sacha, and carries a big Beef Value of LM+55. Marketing this semen are Messrs Ridley, Haltcliffe, Hesket New Market, Wigton.
Keystone Genetics specialises in heavily muscled, high yielding Limousin genetics that are derived from a strong network of partners established in both the UK and Europe. Imported sires to Australia are required to encompass breeding, proven performance and strong maternal lines. Commenting, Tim Keys said: “We have end users in Australia who are looking to develop more heavily muscled style cattle. There are polled and black breeders who also recognise the need to put muscle into their cattle. Other than type, the two key drivers that influence the success of bulls we import are docility and calving ease with maternal ability being an advantage. We are delighted with the choice of Limousin bulls and type that we can find through the Semenstore site.”
British Limousin Cattle Society Chief Executive, Iain Kerr, welcomed the latest export to Australia and commented on the growing international demand and trade for UK Limousin genetics: “In recent months, we have seen high-profile sales of animals to Holland and Denmark. Semen and genetics have also been sold to Scandinavia, Switzerland, Germany and now this latest order to Australia. There is a steady and growing recognition internationally of the quality and performance of pedigree British Limousin cattle. Vehicles like Semenstore and the BASCO database also make it easy for international buyers to find, research and purchase the bulls suited for their markets.”
The semen order to Australia was once again distributed by Semenstore’s Chester-based partner Cogent Breeding Ltd.
