New Highland AI Registration Rules
US - In the January 2005 Board meeting, AHCA passed new rules regarding the sale of semen and the registration of AI offspring. The new rules were done for a couple of reasons.
19 February 2005
3 minute read
The first is to protect the value for the breeder selling semen from registered bulls.
Semen will now be sold in two stages. The first stage semen will be priced (dependent upon the breeder) most likely in the $15-$50 per straw range with the average probably around $20 per straw. This pricing is similar to what cattle industry is accustomed to seeing and paying. However, if the buyer is interested in registering the resulting offspring, a second purchase must be done for a registration certificate.
Highland registration certificates are expected to be priced from $20 to many hundreds of dollars depending on the bull, his genetics and if he is alive or dead.
There are a number of benefits to both the seller and the buyer with this approach. The buyer only has to buy the semen needed to breed their cows and can wait to buy the certificate later for registration after seeing the calves on the ground. This is a low risk approach for the buyer. In addition, if there are problems breeding the cow, the buyer has less upfront cost into that calf, making AI more cost effective.
The benefit to the seller is that he/she can now market to both the whole cattle industry and to registered Highland breeders while protecting their labor and investment in their genetics.
The second reason for the new rule and of equal importance is to create significant market opportunity by allowing Highland breeders to sell semen to the cattle industry in significant volumes. For the Highland breed to grow and to continue to improve its membership, it is important to get existing cattle operations to use Highland genetics. If a commercial operator likes the Highland crosses, we have an opportunity to slowly add them to our membership and be a strong future supporter of the Highland breed.
These new rules are similar to what other major cattle breed societies use to protect their breeders’ value and to promote the use of those genetics and, as such, bring Highland breeders in line with cattle industry standards.
Since these rules were adopted after many years of a previous system in place, i.e., semen and registration sold as one entity , there will be a transition period. This transition period will have an “A” List of bulls that do not need a certificate. For example, GOF Ralph, Scott of Craycombe, DH Exclusive (ET), etc, will be on the “A” list and the old rules of having an AI technician sign a breeding sheet for registration will still be needed.
Bulls on the “B” list will require breeding certificates and all new bulls drawn or bulls collected but not in circulation will automatically be placed on the “B” list.
For more information contact the Denver office.
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