Breeding Goals
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INTRODUCTION It is an exciting time to be involved in Genetics Australia. – a good reason Since joining the Board in 2010 and especially since becoming Chairman two years ago, I have felt incredibly to celebrate grateful that our wonderfully dedicated, very competent and The Australian dairy industry owes a huge debt of gratitude to the professional staff past and present pioneers and original shareholders who had the foresight 60 years ago to who make such a positive contribution establish an AI breeding organisation, the co-op now known as Genetics to Australian dairyfarmers. Australia. While celebrating this significant 60th milestone, we look forward to further decades of success and positive contribution to the Australian farming community. In this publication we have briefly touched on some of the people and organisations that have contributed to the cooperative to make it what it is today. Many more have made significant contributions, from past and current directors, staff, breeders, shareholders and industry organisation, too many to GA Board Chairman at home on his farm at mention. We thank those who have Tinamba, East Gippsland Vic. contributed to the cooperative for the past 60 years. Some are long retired and some are sadly are no heir boldness in committing to breeding program. Our shareholders longer with us but their contribution the concept in an era when should be very proud of the history has been a positive part of our rich Tartificial insemination was new and the contribution the cooperative 60 history. has made to the Australian dairy technology remains awe-inspiring. We look forward to the future with a industry. That vision has culminated in the great deal of enthusiasm and promise development of today’s world-class With nearly 1,200 very committed our current directors and staff are Australian cow. By using the best shareholders, and many more as committed to helping Australia continue to breed world-class cows genetics and best bulls internationally customers, the co-op remains a as were the pioneers of our industry and domestically, we’ve created strong force. Thanks to our previous 60 years ago. a cow that is well suited to our boards, management and staff we production systems with an ability have a very solid asset base with a to be long lasting whilst producing bright future. large volumes of milk with high In recent years the dairy industry components. We are very grateful to has experienced some tough times our dedicated breeders for supplying locally bred world class genetics but with the right stimulus from world to Genetics Australia and to the markets, we will expand again. We countless commercial dairy farmers have been through peaks and willing to use the local ‘testing’ bulls troughs in the past and will no in their herds doubt experience more in years to come. Today our best cows and bulls can rightly stand alongside the best in the As the industry expands, we will world and our world class ABV system continue providing world class reflects that. genetics to breed the best and most profitable cows for our Genetics Australia - and its shareholders and customers. predecessor the Victorian Artificial We’re also expanding our Breeders Cooperative [VAB] - has international markets and been the largest developer of receiving great reports on Australian bred genetics and has the progeny of our bulls from invested millions of dollars into places like South Africa, New Zealand Trevor Henry, with a SHOTIME daughter in 1999 ensuring Australia had a viable local and Latin America. (photo: Jane Steel) Page 2 OUR COMPANY A rich history In 1958 Robert Menzies was Australia’s Prime Minster, Henry Bolte was Victoria’s Premier, Elvis Presley was the reigning king of rock and Marlon Brando was the Wild One. he times were a-changing. The conservative 50s were giving way Tto a cultural and technological revolution. New technology was bringing television into our homes, sending rockets into orbit and the first microchip and computer programs were being devised. Farmers were starting to see the left: Dr David Wishart, Victorian Chief Veterinarian was instrumental in developing animal benefits of these developing husbandry and production research in Victoria in the 1940s and 50s. right: Sir John Reid was the first technologies. Chairman of the cooperative. He remained on the Board for 17 years. By this time artificial breeding had been around in Australia for a decade and commercial use of A commercial AB unit started at M. Noble. Also in attendance were artificial insemination had existed Timboon in 1948 and another at Mr F. M. Reid (Deputy Director of since 1937. Tatura the following year. They were Agriculture), Dr D. S. Wishart (Senior self-contained, owned their own Veterinary Research Officer), and The first AI co-operative was bulls and did all their own collecting, more than 250 interested people. established in Denmark in 1933 and processing and inseminating. Dr. Wishart outlined the advantages by the end of that decade the However, they were not financially of registering as a Co-operative United States had made significant viable and were closed by the end Society. Mr Reid told the meeting the developments in cattle AI. In 1949 of 1949. Government had agreed to provide English researchers demonstrated the a grant of £2000 once support for viable deep freezing of cattle semen. Despite these setbacks, insemination the suggested co-operative was groups recognised the need for Australia was also discovering the evident. The following minute was a concerted effort to expand the benefits of artificial breeding (AB). In then recorded: It was further resolved technology and established the Victoria a pilot AI unit using chilled on the motion of Mr H. J. Roberts, Artificial Breeding Association (ABA) semen was established in 1945 by seconded by Mr J. Gardiner that in to negotiate with the Department. the Department of Agriculture at the order to promote A.B. in Victoria a In 1956 it was realised that demand State Research Farm at Werribee. co-operative society be formed for for semen would grow beyond the establishment and operation of The work of the Victorian Department the Department of Agriculture’s a bull farm and semen distributing of Agriculture was instrumental in production capacity and it was centre. establishing an AI industry in Australia, proposed that the industry set up a and the former chief veterinarian Dr co-operative. The proposed rules were read and David Wishart was a key influence in adopted. Capital would be raised starting AI in Victoria in the 1940s. OUR FOUNDATIONS by issuing $2 shares. The minimum subscription would be five shares The Werribee research farm had On July 17, 1958 a meeting at the State Research Farm at Werribee and the maximum 1000 shares per been established in 1939 and as member. early as 1942 Dr Wishart had started marked the start of what was to a breeding program for dairy cattle become the Victorian Artificial Nominations were then called for using AI. Dr Wishart spent nine months Breeders Co-operative Society Ltd members to form the first Board, touring overseas animal husbandry and ultimately Genetics Australia. designated by the rules to consist of research centres which led to a Interest in the meeting was huge, seven members. Such was the interest strategic plan for developing animal drawing hundreds of people. The that there were more nominations husbandry and production research chairman of the meeting was Mr R. than positions, necessitating a ballot. in Victoria. Messrs. J. D. Gardiner, W.R. Selzer, J. Page 3 after the establishment of VAB and cow numbers increased rapidly. In 1956 only 8000 cows had been inseminated in Victoria. By the time operations started at Parwan Park in 1961 that number had increased ninefold. When the first semen was produced at Parwan Park in 1961, there were 70 bulls on the property. Office manager from 1960 and later commercial manager and CEO, Brian Mayne, recalls that not all farmers were convinced about the merits of AI in those early years. “When it started there wasn’t a big demand,” Brian said. “Farmers didn’t believe it could work; that you could 1st Share Certificate held by Sir John Reid. take semen from a bull, dilute it and then freeze it, keep it frozen at minus 196 and then take it onto his farm, T. Reid, H. L. Martin, M. Noble, C. H. some conservative reservations thaw it out and put it in his cow and Chamberlain and J. Peach were about AI and a lack of funds in the she’d conceive. It was pretty hard for elected, and so the Victorian Artificial early years. some to believe at the time. Breeders Co-operative Society A significant step forward in VAB’s Limited (VAB) was formed. “The stud breeders who were selling development happened in 1959 bulls to the commercial farms The original chairman was J.T (John) with the purchase of Parwan Park, saw that as competition and they Reid, also known as Jock, who hailed five kilometres outside of Bacchus knocked it as well.” from a business background as Marsh, to establish a cattle breeding manager of the James Hardie group property. The 246-acre property had Farmers were soon changing their and had a small dairy farm in the 148 acres under irrigation. Building minds when they saw the positive Dandenongs. He remained chairman works on the property started in result. until 1971 and after a break of two November 1960, including an on-site years returned for another four year laboratory. “We would show them records and stint. photos of calves to prove it was Farmers showed renewed interest working,” Brian said.