Semenstore.co.uk the on-line semen company, has announced the conclusion of two Limousin semen export orders, from nine Limousin bulls in all, to the island of St. Helena, and New Zealand respectively.
The export, of semen from five Limousin bulls, Ironstone Brandy, Ampertaine Abracadabra, Milbrook Tanko, Woodhouse Prince and Winnington Trumps, is believed to be one of the first beef semen exports from the UK to the South Atlantic island of St. Helena. St. Helena is approximately 47 square miles and is located 1700 miles North West of Cape Town, South Africa, and 1200 miles West of Walvis Bay, Namibia. Its nearest land mass is the Island of Ascension, which is 700 miles to the North West. The island has a population of approximately 3900 people known as ‘Saints’.
With no air access all of the island’s supplies are brought in by the Royal Mail Ship, the RMS St Helena, which travels between Cape Town and Ascension Island. A trip from Cape Town to the island usually takes 5 days, 3 days from Ascension Island and 14 days from the United Kingdom! The delivery of the Semenstore order is being facilitated by Cogent Breeding Ltd.
The order was made by Solomon & Company (St Helena) Plc who operate on the island of St Helena and are known locally as “Solomons”. Its diverse portfolio of business operating units includes mercantile, procurement, shipping and travel agents, insurance, farming, bakery, butchery, bulk fuel management and building works. Solomons Livestock Section runs two herds of cattle as well as the largest piggery on island.
Speaking on behalf of Solomon & Company, Joe Hollins MA VetMB MRCVS said; “in investigating the selection of new bloodlines, we found the Semenstore website, which offered all the relevant information to allow us to identify the animals that would suit theIsland. The most important factors for us to consider when choosing the bulls were ease of calving along with docility. The semen which we are importing from these bulls will assist in the calving process as there is no seasonal calving, but all year round with some clustering. With our climate being sub-tropical, even though we are in the tropics, we have no indoor cattle industry and our industry is extensive as opposed to intensive,” he said.
The export to New Zealand was made to pedigree breeders Danny and Bethley O’Shea for their Snake Gully Limousin herd based in Maungakaramea, Whangarei. After some comprehensive research, the O’Sheas have made an eighty five straw order for four high profile Limousin bulls comprising of Bolide, Ampertaine Commander, Wilodge Cerberus and Milbrook Alistair.
Commenting on Semenstore, Danny O’Shea said; “We have found the Semenstore site easy to access and a wonderful source of information. It is so easy to select the exact aspect of breeding you are interested in and gain the information you require.”
The Snake Gully Limousin Stud was formed in 1988 with the purchase of a small number of Full French (FF) cows. The herd had already been using FF Limousin bulls over their large commercial herd with very pleasing results. With structural correctness and Docility in mind the O’Sheas have used AI and ET programmes to increase the FF herd which has been formally docility recorded for the past twelve years.
High Yield is a natural attribute of Limousin cattle that the O’Sheas feel is not appreciated by the New Zealand meat industry. They have chosen many sires with this in mind and are waiting for the change when Payment for Yield will become a fact in New Zealand.
Commenting on the sales Iain Kerr, Semenstore Director, said, “these are excellent orders for the UK pedigree sector and again show the power and reach of the world wide web and the demand for Limousin genetics.”
Semenstore.co.uk has now fulfilled exports to eighteen countries in five continents since its launch in 2009.
