Scots breeders join in Aberdeen Angus genetics deal with Brazil

The initial order of 100,000 doses of semen is heading for Brazil, but there is a promise of more to come over the next two years. The deal, between Devon-based UK Sire Services and Parana-based Araucaria, one of the top cattle breeding companies in Brazil, follows years of liaison and trade missions between the two countries.

The order represents close to 10 per cent of Brazil's annual Angus semen imports, the remainder of which comes mostly from North America.

"We have worked for many years to reach this point," says Rob Wills, director of UK Sire Services. "We have established agents in different countries, brought them to the UK to see the depth of quality and diversity of British genetics."

He revealed one telling factor in favour of the UK deal was the fact that the cattle in this country are grass-fed, unlike their Stateside relations who are often fed on grain. The semen will be used to further push the enormous growth curve for cross-breeding on the Bos indicus Nelore cattle.

One of the Scottish pedigree breeders, Andrew Elliot, who uses Angus bulls on his suckler herd near Galashiels, revealed three of his bulls would contribute to the consignment.

"For the Brazilian breeders who visited our farm, I'd say the thought of having to handle cattle to calve them would be incomprehensible," says Mr Elliot.