Sheep breeders in the UK can now export genetics to the US in an agreement estimated to be worth £750,000 in the first year of trade.
Following a 26-year absence from the US market, UK sheep breeders will now be able to export genetics following a new ovine embryo export health certification going live this week.
According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), US sheep breeders are looking to bring in fresh genetics of some of the UK breeds since the market closed.
Breeds including Suffolk, Texel, and Charollais are set to benefit from the new agreement, as well as some heritage breeds.
Around 10,000 doses of semen are expected to arrive in the US by the end of 2022 – retailing at up to $100/dose.
It is expected that 2,000 commercial embryos will follow, worth between $450 and $1,000 each, the AHDB said.
The news of the agreement comes in the wake of last month’s reopening of trade in sheep meat, which saw British lamb return to US supermarkets.
AHDB’s international market development director, Phil Hadley, said: “This is fantastic news for the UK sheep sector, following the recent announcement that British lamb is back on the menus after more than two decades.
“The importance of this agreement is huge, as many entrepreneurial UK pedigree sheep breeders have had an eye on the US market for some time and now, they are ready to take the next steps to exporting sheep genetics to the US
“The publication of the embryo export certificate not only brings a financial boost to breeders in the UK, but also affords ovine genetic benefit to our US sheep industry colleagues.”
