British Livestock expert: Import foreign semen

THE GOVERNMENT of Trinidad and Tobago should re-instate the necessary health certificate required to import new breeds of livestock from across the European market, according to Executive Manager of the British Livestock Genetics Consortium, Rob Wills. Wills explained that the importation of semen to introduce new breeds of animals to the local markets, and for cross - breeding with existing stocks, would provide the country with both leaner meat, and improve the quality of production, whether it is milk or meat production.

Wills made these observations while addressing a seminar on International Trade in Livestock Genetics Resources, Traceability and Advances in Reproduction Biotechnology, at the Sir Frank Stockdale Building, University of the West Indies, St Augustine. Wills explained that in the UK semen from various breeds are sold on the UK market for over 20 to 25 pounds, while it was exported to another market for just five pounds. However, Wills explained that at present it was not possible to export semen from the UK to TT, since the required health certificate does not exist in this country.

Wills stated that he intended to meet with the necessary ministers to discuss the market and what could be done to improve it in preparation for international trade, and one of the things he intended to discuss with them was the health certificate. Wills said that he believed that the European model Health Certificate is the best one to use, since it would allow the UK the opportunity to offer a wider selection of stocks to the industry here. He explained, if the country decided to use their own model, the market would be narrowed significantly, and the cost of purchasing new breeds would be higher.

He pointed out that the market should be made as wide as possible, and noted that this was where the EU certificate came in. After the certificate is acquired, exporters would have to be notified about the market in TT, so that the prices can be adapted to suit the economy. He noted that while the price must be affordable, it must be structured in a way that both parties benefit from the trade. Wills explained that the international market was moving towards leaner quality meats, but at present TT produce a fatty type breed of meat. However, he noted that there were types of stocks that could be imported to cross-breed with the local stock to get leaner meat to offer to the consumers.