The e-commerce website, Semenstore.co.uk, has announced further export orders of British Limousin and British Blue semen to Australia and the USA respectively.
A quantity of 100 straws of Ulm semen was purchased in October by Tim Keys of Keystone Genetics based in the Australian State of Victoria. Keystone Genetics has had a long involvement with UK Limousin genetics, with the importation of semen from several AI sires over the past decade including Jockey, Opera, Ronick Iceman, Marquis, Sympa, Goldies Terence, Tango and Milbrook Alistair.
Ulm is a French-bred bull sired by Mas Du Clo and out of a Dauphin-sired dam and was purchased by Peadar Hughes of Hawthorne Farm, Dungannon, N Ireland at the Fedneyhouse Retirement Sale in September 2009 for a NI Record Limousin Auction price of 14,000gns.
Commenting, Tim Keys of Keystone Genetics said: “Ulm was selected on the basis of his heavy muscle type, strong pedigree and solid figures with acceptable calving ease, strong growth and high muscle depth. Our interest in Ulm was heightened in 2008 when the bull and his progeny were inspected by fellow breeder Max Atkins of Willow Park Limousins. We were then able to secure the semen with a high level of confidence. The Semenstore website and ordering process was very simple to use and our expectation is that we will continue to use it.
In a separate order, 25 straws of the British Blue bull Ballygrange Alex, sold on behalf of D & J Wyllie, Pessall Farm, Edingale, Staffs have been shipped to the USA. This consignment was purchased by Steve Dollarhide, a Board Member of American Belgian Blue Breeders Inc, for use on his 15-strong pedigree herd which run together with 60 commercial Brangus cows on a 160 acre farm in Southeastern Oklahoma. “I started using Blue bulls about 10 years ago to add more growth and meat to my crossbred calves. The first thing that I consider is the calving ease then black coat colour together with correctness of structure and growth. Ballygrange Alex has all of these attributes and I plan to use the semen to improve my own herd and sell offspring in the US,” commented Mr Dollarhide.
Since its launch in February 2009, and in addition to its core domestic business, Semenstore.co.uk has fulfilled export orders to countries in five different continents. A significant market has been established in the Republic of Ireland where a regular stream of export orders have been completed to both private purchasers as well as semen distribution companies. Particular demand from the Republic of Ireland has focused on the Limousin bulls Wilodge Cerberus, Procters Cavalier and Bolide.
