Ankara, Turkey – New regulations concerning breeding bulls used for natural insemination in livestock farms, including buffaloes, have been officially implemented in Turkey. The ‘Communique on Natural Insemination Bulls,’ prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, was published in the Official Gazette, establishing new procedures and principles aimed at improving animal husbandry and ensuring the quality of breeding stock.
Permit Requirements and Control Mechanisms Introduced
The communique specifies the procedures and principles for granting permits for breeding cattle (including buffaloes) to be used for natural insemination in breeding farms. It also outlines the control mechanisms for these bulls and the technical and performance requirements for breeding cattle (including buffaloes) imported for natural insemination purposes.
According to the new rules, livestock farms intending to use breeding bulls for natural insemination must obtain a ‘natural insemination bull permit’ from the provincial directorate. This permit is crucial for ensuring proper oversight and adherence to established standards.
Key Provisions of the New Regulations:
- Permit Specificity: A natural insemination bull granted a permit can only be used in the specific livestock farm for which the permit was issued. If the bull is transferred or sold to another farm, the new owner must obtain a new permit.
- Animal Transportation: Natural insemination bulls must be transported in accordance with the procedures and principles determined by the Ministry for animal transfers. A critical requirement is that the bull must not show any signs of illness on the date of transfer.
- Identification: Bulls without ear tags, in accordance with the legislation on animal identification, registration, and monitoring, cannot be used as natural insemination bulls. This ensures traceability and proper record-keeping.
Health Checks and DNA Testing for Quality Assurance
The new regulations place a strong emphasis on health and genetic quality. Candidate bulls for natural insemination must be registered in the TÜRKVET system and the Ministry’s breeding systems. Furthermore, sperm production from permitted natural insemination bulls is strictly prohibited.
Detailed Health and Genetic Requirements:
- Health Tests: All applications for health tests for natural insemination bulls will be carried out by official veterinarians from the provincial/district directorates.
- Cost Responsibility: The costs of all tests and analyses conducted under this communique will be borne by the individual, institution, or organization owning the natural insemination bull. The Ministry reserves the right to request additional tests and analyses if deemed necessary.
- Reporting Changes: The owner of a natural insemination bull must notify the provincial directorate within 15 days in case of slaughter, death, or sale of the animal.
- Accredited Laboratories: All tests and analyses specified in the communique must be conducted in official laboratories approved by the Ministry, in accordance with the veterinary diagnostic and analysis laboratories legislation and using Ministry-determined test methods. The list of approved laboratories and test methods will be published on the Ministry’s website.
- DNA Testing: If deemed necessary by the Ministry, DNA tests can be conducted on calves born from natural insemination bulls for parentage verification.
- Annual Inspections: Permitted bulls will be inspected by the provincial directorate at least once a year to ensure ongoing compliance with the regulations.
Phenotypic and Genetic Standards for Breeding Bulls
The regulations also set clear standards for the physical characteristics and genetic makeup of breeding bulls. The bull must exhibit the phenotypic characteristics of its breed. A phenotypic suitability report will be prepared on-site by a committee consisting of a veterinarian and an agricultural engineer (zootechnician) from the provincial directorate.
Crucially, the bull must be older than 12 months. Bulls that have undergone genomic testing must be free from genetic defects identified and published by the Ministry on its website. DNA testing will also be essential in this regard. In case of objections to test results, an analysis will be repeated on the witness sample, and the analysis result will be finalized.
Genomic test results will be sent to the Turkish Central Union of Cattle Breeders for the calculation of the bull’s genomic breeding value, and the results will be recorded in the Ministry’s breeding database. Performance characteristics will not be required for local and beef cattle breeds.
The communique also includes detailed requirements for imported bulls, covering health criteria, vaccination, and necessary permits, ensuring that all breeding stock entering the country meets the high standards set by the Ministry.
