| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Ron Zellar |
| October 3, 2007 | (406) 444-3144 |
Trade Delegation to Promote Beef Genetics in Russia
HELENA, Mont. — Director Ron de Yong of the Montana Department of Agriculture will lead a delegation to Russia, leaving Sunday, to develop trade leads for the sale of beef genetics to producers in the world's largest country.
The five-member Montana group will attend the Golden Autumn Trade Show, where a reception with government officials, livestock breeders and major importers of beef genetics is planned.
"A large portion of Russia's beef industry is still based on dairy breeds. We hope to provide our hosts with information about Montana's world class seed stock, performance testing and feeding philosophies, and discuss with Russian breeders how they might make use of U.S. genetics to accomplish their project goals," de Yong said.
Montana beef animals are bred to withstand harsh winter conditions, he noted, a trait that is likely to be of interest to Russian producers.
Other members of the delegation are: Jack Holden of Holden Herefords near Valier; Darrell Stevenson of Stevenson Basin Angus Ranch in the Judith Basin; Russell Nemetz, ag director at the Northern Ag Network; and Marty Earnheart, meats and livestock marketing officer for the Montana Department of Agriculture.
Events during the October 7-14, 2007, visit include day tours to dairy and beef breeding facilities in the Ryazan and Tver Regions. Among the industry and government leaders the delegation will meet with is Kharon Amerkhanov, deputy chief veterinary officer in the Russian Federation Ministry of Agriculture.
In 2006 and 2007, Montana breeders have exported 235,000 units of bull semen worth more than $5 million to cattle breeders in more than 15 countries. The department received a grant from the United States Livestock Genetics Export program to help pay for the trade mission.
A decline in Russia's livestock numbers and production following the breakup of the former Soviet Union is being reversed through improvements in imported livestock genetics, Earnheart said. More than 2,000 new agricultural cooperatives have been created, and Russian livestock producers and breeders are very interested in genetics from the United States.
For more information about the department's meat and livestock genetics marketing program, contact the Montana Department of Agriculture at (406) 444-3144 or by email at agr@mt.gov.
