Opening of Chinese market boosts Irish livestock breeding industry

THE opening of the Chinese market for Irish bovine semen was welcomed yesterday by Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith.

He said it is a very significant development for the Irish livestock breeding sector because, for the first time, this large and potentially lucrative market will be available to Irish companies that can offer quality genetics in Irish bovine semen to Chinese customers.

Mr Smith said in order to allow the export of bovine semen from Ireland to China, his department had to satisfy the requirements of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China.