The South African Stud Book Association plans to proceed with its own recording system, after the failure of its negotiations with the Agricultural Research Council to try and establish a one-stop recording system.
At the recent Stud Book general meeting in Bloemfontein, the association’s outgoing president, Carel Nel, said South African stud farmers have registered their animals with the South African Stud Book Association for the past 106 years.
This shows how important they consider animal production recording and the high esteem they have for SA Stud Book, said Nel in his farewell speech.
“This underscores the ongoing growth in the local stud industry. Through the creation of Stud Book’s own production recording system we will from now on determine our own future.”
“We have appointed a team of world-class experts to run Stud Book’s recording system and accept total responsibility for animal recording on behalf of our clients.”
Dr Pierre van Rooyen, Stud Book’s general manager, pointed out at the meeting that top experts in the South African livestock industry have already joined SA Stud Book, including geneticists such as Dr Bernice Mostert, Dr Helena Theron and Dr Bobby van der Westhuizen.
The recording division will be headed by Dr Japie van der Westhuizen. “We will in all probability start with the system in January 2012,” he said. “We’ve calculated our costs very carefully and initial results show that dairy farmers’ accounts, for example, won’t be more than 10% higher.
“But we need to know what your demands are,” Dr Van Rooyen told delegates at the meeting. “The advisory committee system for the respective species represented at Stud Book will consequently be rejuvenated. We will also increasingly concentrate on the development and training of new farmers.” – Annelie Coleman
