Genetics Australia Appoints New Chair and Plans to Develop Reproductive Technologies

During Pekin’s tenure, Genetics Australia acquired Total Livestock Genetics and formed the Genetics Australia Holdings joint venture with the URUS Group. According to Humphris, after URUS acquired Trans Ova, the Co-operative provided funding to bring that investment under the joint venture. He linked the decision to the development of herd reproductive technologies.

The Co-operative retains ownership of Genetics Australia’s land assets and is responsible for capital expenditure on those properties. Humphris said it is considering further acquisitions to develop activities related to dairy and beef cattle reproduction.

The new Chair also named the production of semen in Australia, the development of Australian breeding bulls, and access to those bulls for dairy and beef farms among the Co-operative’s objectives. According to him, members currently benefit mainly from discounts on semen. As the joint venture grows, the Co-operative intends to consider other ways of distributing the profits it receives.

Humphris and his wife Marie run a dairy farm in Nirranda South, where they milk 600 cows and use a three-way crossbreeding system. Before starting his own farming business, he worked as a dairy veterinarian for 15 years. Genetics Australia has about 900 active shareholders.