International trends in livestock breeding and the role of breeding companies

Artificial insemination is the key factor determining breeding structures for farm animals. In the case of poultry, breeding exchange has major advantages as day-old chicks and hatching eggs can be shipped anywhere in the world. The competitive position of a breeding society or a breeding company is significantly determined by the selection strategy and the weighting of individual traits. Breeding progress must be transferred to the production level with the least possible delay. The larger the customer base the more value is created. But this requires that performance benefits are verifiable and quantifiable by the producer. Random sample tests that are very limited in scope are a poor decision-making tool. In order to maximize breeding progress, the definition of breeding goals should be kept as simple as possible and geared towards single rather than dual purpose use. Cattle breeding is organised entirely along cooperative lines and geared primarily towards national sperm sales. Internationally comparable genetic evaluation is essential for increased globalisation. In Europe the private sector and cooperative systems each account for about half of the pig breeding business. The national market share of any single company is less than 25 %. Poultry production is exclusively in private ownership throughout the world. Globally there are fewer than five companies operating in the layer, broiler and turkey sectors, respectively. As each breeder is continuously expanding his product range, product variation is largely maintained. As standards of product quality rise, breeding objectives become increasingly complex and the cost of performance testing goes up. Breeding goals have to be revised at ever shorter intervals. As market globalisation grows, producers scrutinize the genetic potential of livestock more closely than ever. Marketing and service are increasingly determining the success of business. The more successful breeding companies are at raising the reproductive rate of their breeding stock, the more their business grows. In all sectors of livestock production the number of breeding societies and breeding companies will continue to decline steadily and the gradation from sheep via cattle and pigs to poultry remains. Growing cost pressure will accelerate this process.

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