Irish farmers will soon be able to use some of the “best dairy genetics New Zealand has to offer”. This comes after LIC, the New Zealand farmer owned co-operative, announced details of its Premier Club at this week’s National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
AgriLand caught up with the company’s Timothy Bunnett and Mark Ryder to find out more about the initiative, called the Premier Club.
Bunnett said: “Semen from these bulls will be available to Irish farmers who sign up to LIC’s Premier Club. It will allow Irish farmers, who join the club, access to some of these bulls.
“In return, we are only asking that club members, or members that use Premier Club bulls, do not allow their offspring to be in the hands of competitive genetic companies.”
In addition, the LIC Europe Sales Operation Manager said: “Irish farmers have got the advantage of using these bulls before New Zealand farmers because of the change in the quarantine rules.
Some of these bulls will be available to Irish farmers before they are available to New Zealand farmers. Also, it allows us to bring in some of the very best Premier Sires that we have in New Zealand.
Mark Ryder explained that the Premier Club is LIC’s way of bringing the best of its bulls to Ireland. “To join the club, you just have to buy some of our elite genetics from New Zealand,” he added.
“We are delighted to launch the LIC Premier Club in Ireland and, particularly, here at the National Ploughing Championships this year.
“While we have been working hard to ensure that our offering to Irish farmers is of the highest quality, membership of this club is about more than just the straws.
“It’s about LIC Ireland’s desire to go the extra mile to support the herd improvement of all farmers in Ireland for the long-term. And it’s also to ensure we can continue to deliver our world-class products,” LIC’s European General Manager said.
LIC partnered with AgriLand to bring you live coverage of this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
Both Bunnett and Ryder encouraged farmers to come visit the LIC’s stand at this year’s event to see how the use of its genetics may benefit their farms.
LIC is located at Stand 395, Row 18, Block 2 at the ‘Ploughing’ site in Screggan.