LandCorp, Rissington Breedline to merge genetics divisions

LandCorp, Rissington Breedline to merge genetics divisions

By Jason Krupp

Dec. 16 (BusinessDesk) - State owner famer Landcorp Farming Ltd. and breeding stock improvement company Rissington Breedline Ltd. have agreed to merge their genetics divisions, creating the largest single sheep and cattle genetics database in the world.

The two divisions have been working together for close to a year and the merger will mean greater genetic gain as well as the ability to share resources, skills, technologies and equipment, the companies said in a statement.

LandCorp chief executive Chris Kelly said the superior genetic gain in the dairy industry was mainly due to the development of a large scale coordinated genetic improvement programme, and the merger would allow the same approach to be applied to the dry stock industry.

“The size of the new entity will increase its ability to invest in groundbreaking research and development technologies that are becoming more expensive and complex,” said Kelly. "This new entity will have access to the largest available single database worldwide allowing us to provide our customers with significant and sustainable genetic gain.”

The new entity, which will be owned jointly owned by the two companies, is expected to start operating in May next year, subject to final due diligence. Rissington’s operations in the UK, Uruguay and Brazil will be transferred to the new entity.

Both companies will continue to provide customers with access to existing genetics from both breeding programmes, including Primera, Lamb Supreme, Highlander, LandMark, Romney and Texel sheep breeds, Angus, Simmental and Stabilizer cattle breeds and Wapiti and Red deer breeds.

The announcement comes amid recent moves by Landcorp to increase collaboration with the private sector to improve herd and flock stocks.

In October the company moved its performance recording system for sheep and deer to Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd.'s databases, creating the most extensive genetic datasets for the respective stock in the country.

(BusinessDesk)

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