The Minister for Agriculture, Dr Mahendra Reddy has launched a pioneer embryo transfer program at the Sigatoka Research Station.
Dr Reddy believes this is the first of its kind in Fiji to ensure that its Beef and Dairy Industry improves.
He says these two industries have slowly evolved over the years from a few cows at subsistence level to a more commercially oriented industry with major players such as farmers, processors, retailers, importers and consumers.
The Minister says however the overall performances of our Beef and Dairy industry over the years have been stagnant which is due mainly to the traditional breeds of animals, diseases like Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis, knowledge and capacity to manage livestock diseases, the sectors vulnerability to natural disasters, economic and political shocks, farming scale, poor quality and unpredictable production.
Senepol has been selected as the breed for beef and Brown Swiss for dairy, with these new bloodlines hailed to reduce inbreeding and improve performance and productivity, as well as for its genetic superiority.
The embryo transfers have been overseen by the Australian Reproductive Technologies, with 37 calves born from 40 pregnant recipients in September, as part of the program's first phase.
The second phase has noted a 52% success rate with 90 embryos transferred and 47 recipients confirmed pregnant.
The Ministry of Agriculture is now initiating the third phase and has identified two additional beef breeds, Drought Master and Waqyu.
Dr Reddy says in identifying the lack of performances in Fiji’s Dairy and Beef industry due to poor genetics, the Ministry have opted for Embryo Transfer which is a safer method of improving farmer’s herds rather than the normal practice of importation of cattle.
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