ABS Global Inc., a division of Genus plc, a popular source of superor bovine genetics, was granted a permanent injunction against Inguran LLC, operating as Sexing Technologies or ST. The injunction was announced by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin at the end of March
What this really means is that the court ruled that ST is prevented from enforcing certain research, marketing and non-compete restrictions under the 2012 Semen Sorting Agreement between ST and ABS. It also allows all other bull studs in the U.S. to break their ST sexed semen processing contracts but must give ST 12 months notice. This ruling will remain in force for five years and ST is required by the Court to give immedidate notice to all other bull studs that their contacts can be canceled too. ABS looked for the injunction after a jury finding in August 2016, that ST “had willfully maintained monopoly power in the market for sexed bovine semen processing in the U.S. since July 2012”.
Most Dairy producers prefer a female calve, because they in turn can keep or grow that animal as a replacement for their own herd as appose to purchasing replacements. When using AI or artificial insemination farmers now have the option to use only female or sexed semen to produce in all likelihood a female calf. ABS plans to launch its own brand of sexed genetics, Sexcel™, in 2017. Sexcel is produced through a novel technology for sexing bovine semen that does not subject the cells to the high pressures, electric currents and shear forces of the technology currently in use in the industry. The commercial launch of Sexcel will provide ABS customers with a new and exciting product to help them profit through genetic progress.
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