justintime
Well-known member
I have sent embryos to both Germany and Austria in the last two years. In both cases they were a combination of Canadian and US breeding. The market for Shorthorn embryos in EU countries seems to be gaining strength again. We just had our "Frozen in Time" online embryo sale and it ended on Jan 30th- last Friday. We had lots of interest from Britain, and as a result have a tank with 72 embryos heading to England shortly. Up until a couple years ago, the main interest we had from Britain seemed to be in Scotland but in the past couple years, England and Northern Ireland seem to be the hottest markets. Lots and lots of new herds of Shorthorns being established over there. We had a new buyer in this sale that is using embryos to establish their new beef herd after selling off their dairy cows.I think this is the 10th new herd that has been established over there with embryos from us. Many of these new herds have become repeat buyers so they must be happy with the results they are getting. In this case, they kept a group of dairy cross heifers and are using them as recips. I would say that most of the Brits I am selling embryos to are wanting appendix pedigrees but there are also some who don't care as long as they think the sire and dam are high enough quality. It has been a huge market for us and with this shipment, this will make 160 embryos that have gone to the UK in the past year from our herd. I am also finding that a few UK breeders are now buying females here in Canada and collecting their own embryos. I have sold two cows for this, and one of these guys wants to buy another. They are also buying entire flushes rather than just embryos so that they can mate them the way they want to. It is a very different marketplace over there, and what works here, may not be exactly what they want and need over there. What I think they need over there is oftentimes of no concern to them. They want cattle with more growth and frame than we want here. That is what their markets are demanding.
Our online sale was not over until close to 4 am in the UK. I was totally amazed how many of those people in the UK stayed up and watched their computer screens until the last lot was sold. I wonder how many people we would have watching the sale end here if it ended at 4 a.m. My guess is not many!
A few years ago, I sold a lady in Scotland a group of 10 embryos and she was very fortunate and got 10 calves. Two years later she took the first two bulls she had ever sold to the Perth sale. She contacted me after the sale and said that she was very pleased with how one bull sold but disappointed in how the other sold. The one she was pleased with the selling price sold for 17,800 guineas ( approximately $30,000 + over here). The one she was disappointed in only sold for 8500 guineas ( approximately $17,000 here). Both bulls sold to commercial breeders for use on exotic cross females. I think most everyone over here would have been pleased with both prices received. I had seen both of these bulls when I was in Scotland and I am quite sure they would have sold the opposite way over here. I think the cheaper priced bull was by far the better bull as he was more moderate framed and extremely thick. The higher selling bull was taller, and not as thick made but over there, performance is king.
Our online sale was not over until close to 4 am in the UK. I was totally amazed how many of those people in the UK stayed up and watched their computer screens until the last lot was sold. I wonder how many people we would have watching the sale end here if it ended at 4 a.m. My guess is not many!
A few years ago, I sold a lady in Scotland a group of 10 embryos and she was very fortunate and got 10 calves. Two years later she took the first two bulls she had ever sold to the Perth sale. She contacted me after the sale and said that she was very pleased with how one bull sold but disappointed in how the other sold. The one she was pleased with the selling price sold for 17,800 guineas ( approximately $30,000 + over here). The one she was disappointed in only sold for 8500 guineas ( approximately $17,000 here). Both bulls sold to commercial breeders for use on exotic cross females. I think most everyone over here would have been pleased with both prices received. I had seen both of these bulls when I was in Scotland and I am quite sure they would have sold the opposite way over here. I think the cheaper priced bull was by far the better bull as he was more moderate framed and extremely thick. The higher selling bull was taller, and not as thick made but over there, performance is king.
