Russia is tightening requirements for the import of imported breeding stock, semen and embryos

At the same time, Russian producers of breeding products say that for the country’s food security, dependence on imports must be reduced.

From September 1 , 2024 , most of the provisions of the law will come into force in RUSSIA, which introduces new requirements for the import of imported breeding animals, semen and embryos into the country. The supply of such products will require a special conclusion, as well as the results of a molecular genetic examination, so that dangerous genetic diseases are not brought into the country with breeding material. At the same time, Russian producers of breeding products say that for the country’s food security, dependence on imports must be reduced.

Import will require a conclusion.

The new law of December 25, 2023 No. 660-FZ establishes requirements for the import of breeding animals, semen and embryos from foreign countries (not members of the EAEU ). For import, a conclusion will be required that animals, semen and embryos belong to breeding products. Such a conclusion will be issued by the Ministry of Agriculture . The document will be available to legal entities or individual entrepreneurs who import breeding products.

A conclusion will need to be obtained for each batch of imported breeding products. The document will indicate, among other things, the type of breeding material, the name of the breed/cross, and the age and sex group.

The Ministry of Agriculture has developed criteria by which imported farm animals, as well as semen and embryos, will be classified as breeding products, including the presence of a breeding certificate.

An important point: when importing breeding animals, semen and embryos, the results of a molecular genetic examination will be required, which confirm the absence of genetically determined diseases.

The Ministry of Agriculture has determined a list of genetic diseases for which certain breeds of animals will need to be tested. This list was prescribed in the draft order of the ministry. For example, it is proposed to examine Galloway cows for hemimelia of the tibia.

In addition, importers of breeding material will have to provide:

– a positive genomic forecast of breeding value for MILK yield, fat and protein (confirmation of at least 70%) or a positive assessment of the quality of the offspring;
– positive indicators for fertilizing ability, as well as signs of HEALTH and conformation.

The new law will come into force on September 1, except for paragraph 3 of Article 1, which will come into force later, from March 1, 2026.

Dependence on imports is decreasing

“The world has changed, and it became clear to everyone that our country should have its own breeding base. This is important for food security,” noted Maxim Maksimchuk, General DIRECTOR of JSC “Head Center for the Reproduction of Farm Animals” (JSC “GCV”), in an interview with “Veterinary Science and Life”.

He points out that the import of breeding products is decreasing. If in 2022 about 6.5 million doses of imported semen were imported into the Russian Federation, then in 2023 - 3.5 million doses. This is data from the Federal State Budgetary Institution “All-Russian Research Institute of Breeding,” the speaker clarified.

Maxim Maksimchuk told ViZh that the capacities of GCV JSC make it possible to completely replace imported seed on the Russian market for breeding products. “The main center for the reproduction of farm animals is ready to cover 100% of the needs of the domestic market with its technological and production capacities, without deteriorating production indicators and quality,” the speaker said.

Today, GCV JSC occupies 45% of the domestic market for breeding material and produces 6 million doses of semen per year, clarified Maxim Maksimchuk. The capacity of the breeding seed market in Russia is estimated at 10 million doses per year.

Experts note the low quality of imported breeding material supplied to Russia. “Of the 6.5 million doses of semen that were delivered in 2022, less than 2% are from really good world-class bulls,” Ivan Yanchukov, general director of JSC Moskovskoe for breeding, said in an interview with ViZh.

According to Sergei Mymrin, General Director of Uralplemcenter JSC, most of the imported sperm products cost 1–2 dollars per dose. “Although we know that in the American and European markets the cost of one sperm dose from high-quality bulls with good productive performance reaches up to $200, and sometimes the price is even higher,” explained Sergey Mymrin.

Ivan Yanchukov recalled the task set by the President of Russia: by 2030, to reach 75% self-sufficiency in breeding products. “The implementation of this plan is possible now,” the speaker is confident. – At least in dairy farming for sure. Currently, there are enough artificial insemination organizations in the Russian Federation that are seriously engaged in livestock breeding and whose bulls are today competitive with animals supplied from abroad.”

Poultry farmers need their own egg cross.

In poultry farming, the situation with import substitution of breeding products is more complicated. While the MEAT sector has its own domestic cross of chickens, Smena 9, there is no Russian cross in the egg production. Egg producers purchase parent flocks abroad.

There are currently three companies operating on the world market that raise breeding poultry for egg production. These are the German EW Group (including Lohmann Breeders, Hy-Line International, H&N International, Novogen), the Dutch Hendrix Genetics (including Hisex, Dekalb and others) and the Hungarian Bábolna TETRA. Moreover, Bábolna TETRA entered the Russian market only in 2023.

Experts note that such market monopolization allowed foreign producers to dictate prices for breeding birds.

“The fact that Bábolna TETRA came to Russia is beneficial not only for us, it is beneficial for our partners - Russian poultry farmers, because they now have the right to choose,” explained the general director of the company in Russia and the CIS countries, Rizvan Dzhanarslanov, in an interview with ViZh. He noted that competition in the market will not allow a particular supplier to dominate in matters of price for breeding birds.

Two batches of breeding laying hens of the Hungarian cross “Tetra” were delivered to Russia. “Each batch averages 30–35 thousand heads,” said the general director. One batch arrived at the Volzhanin OJSC poultry farm, the second to Okskoye JSC. Both enterprises are in the top 5 for the production of edible eggs in the country (data from the Russian Poultry Union for 2022).

He recalled that laying hens of the Tetra cross were the first birds brought to the USSR from abroad. Now Bábolna TETRA intends to expand the volume of import of breeding poultry into our country.