Frontline biosecurity 'untouchable'
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has reiterated that 'frontline' biosecurity services within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will not be cut under the Government's plan to reduce the public service.
The new CRV Bellevue production and logistics centre will be opened next month by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy; CRV’s Netherlands-based supervisory board and executives will also attend.
The facility will house bulls, and collect, process and store their semen, distributing it to domestic and international markets.
CRV Ambreed operations manager Andrew Medley says a world class logistics division of the business will also ensure orders are delivered in time and in full.
Medley says the aim is for the centre – capable of housing 200 bulls – to become “a world class export approved bovine semen production and logistics centre,” he told Dairy News. “[It meets] the highest standards required to ensure the CRV business meets its export compliance requirements, biosecurity requirements, animal welfare standards and a safe working environment for staff and bulls.”
The centre will supply to 30% of the market in New Zealand. At least 1.4 million straws of New Zealand-proven genetics are now distributed from the centre – 400,000 straws to international markets.
The centre has merged three operational CRV Ambreed locations into one; up to 20 staff will work each year at the centre. Medley says the amalgamation was needed “to protect our right to stay in business”.
“Export compliance standards are continuously being scrutinised by Government authorities, so we had to improve our bull facilities to continue to [supply] export markets.
“The CRV business has also grown over the last five years and being on the one location will help to enhance our efficiency.”
