Hot spot for Australian bull semen as China market re-opens

Australian cattle genetics will be used for premium beef cattle and dairy cows in China. (Supplied: MLA/ABC Landline)

Australian bull semen exports have resumed to the lucrative China market after a five year break.

The Wagyu and dairy genetics will be used to improve farm efficiency in China and for the production of premium beef.

24,000 straws of semen have been sent to China since April, with further exports planned for coming months.

Australian bull semen is being sent to China after a five year break as demand for premium beef in the People's Republic grows.

A total of 24,000 straws of bull semen were sent in April and May this year, marking the first exports of Australian cattle genetics to China since 2021.

Genetics company ABS Australia secured a major export agreement with China for Wagyu, Jersey and Holstein semen, with the potential for the inclusion of other breeds in the future.

"[Australia's] got some of the best Wagyu bulls and Angus bulls available around the world," business operations manager Bruce Ronalds said.

"[Breeders in China] are pretty excited to start using them within their herds."

Semen from this Jersey bull has been sent to China. (Supplied: ABS Australia)

ABS China commercial director Snow Wu said local farmers want to improve their productivity and efficiency, as well as the quality of the beef they are producing.

Ms Wu said China's dairy herd had increased "from around five million to six million cows" and milk production was up.

Bruce Ronalds says Australian bull genetics are highly regarded overseas. (Supplied: ABS Australia)

She said there was also interest in Australian Wagyu for the breeding of cows with beef bulls.

"On-farm, using Australian Wagyu sires over Chinese dairy cows allows producers to improve beef quality and profitability while maximising existing dairy herds," she said.

"Australia has built a strong reputation for breeding performance and production systems, including environmental benefits and consistency."

Mr Ronalds said the "high marbling" of Wagyu beef was a drawcard.

"The Wagyu product brings that extra marbling on the beef-on-dairy … and the Chinese market are really looking for that in the Wagyu space," he said.

China closed the door on Australian cattle genetics in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before that, China was Australia's biggest market for cattle semen and embryos.

Chinese officials visited the Total Livestock Genetics export facility last year. (Supplied: ABS Australia)

The General Administration of Customs China re-accredited the Total Livestock Genetics exp