UK Sires have signed a contract with the Kazakhstan Chamber of Angus Breeders to supply Aberdeen Angus semen as a first step in their genetic improvement programme
Signed at the House of Lords in the presence of Baroness Nicholson, the Prime Ministers Trade Envoy for Kazakhstan, are Mr Robert Whitcomb From The Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society, Mr Rob Wills Director of UK Sires and Mr Dauren Salykov Director of the Kazak Angus Chamber
This contract came about after series of visits initiated by the DIT team at the British Embassy in Kazakhstan who flagged up an opportunity to UKTAG following approaches made to them by their Angus Breeders for help in improving their breeds, having imported live animals from other countries, they recognised the benefits of cattle genetics from the UK to help them improve their stock.
UK Embassy DIT staff initially set up a meeting with UKTAG who introduced them to our Angus breed society. This was followed by a series of webinars and a scoping visit by UKTAG’s Dr Rob Grinnall to Kazakstan While in country as a Director of UKECP he was able to help the Kazak veterinary authorities and post to secure a veterinary health certificate to supply semen
Whilst negotiations were taking place with DEFRA for certification our Angus Society invited a group of breeders to come and look at cattle in the UK this was gladly accepted and in July accompanied by Beth McKendrick Trade Director and Meruyert Kairbekova Trade Manager from our Embassy in Kazakhstan they visited the Royal Highland Show followed by farm visits culminating in a visit to Angus Stovold’s herd in Surrey with a barbecue followed the next day by a farm tour and lunch hosted by Mr Stovold at which presentations from Robert Gilchrist, Aberdeen Angus Society Secretary and Mr Stovold finalising a very successful visit
Following this inward mission also supported by Dr Elizabeth Warham Head of DIT Agri tech team based in London an MOU was signed between the two organisations for cooperation, followed quickly by the commercial agreement signed last week to supply AA semen.
Going forwards the societies are maintaining close cooperation featuring genetics and technology
Demonstrating the ongoing cooperation Messers Stovold, Whitcomb and Grinnall met the Kazak Angus breeders again at the recent Eurotier event
I look forward to being able to follow up on this news with more developments and to see the first UK bred cattle born in Kazakhstan
