Ai Services’ Group looks to the Future
Date Posted: 5th October 2023
Ai Services’ Group Chairman Robin Irvine welcomed the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland recently to the organisation’s headquarters at Ballycraigy in Co Antrim, where he gave some background to the company. He commented:
The company was set up by local farmers to ensure the delivery of breeding services when the Dept of Agriculture withdrew its Artificial insemination service.
The intervening years have seen a revolution in animal breeding – particularly in the dairy sector.
I have to acknowledge the dedicated and hard working staff who have transformed the company and indeed the livestock industry: selecting from the global genetic pool to procure the bloodlines best suited to local conditions and requirements alongside adopting production indexes and breeding technologies to improve production and the efficiency of milk production in the province.
What hasn’t changed is the ethos of this business – it is owned and controlled by, and for the benefit of local farmers.
This principle has been at the centre of our recent restructure of the share register – shares not held by farmers were bought in by the company and re-allocated in a 3 for 1 share issue to trading members.
Co-operative type principles have been adopted in paying a dividend on shares and also a trading bonus based on business transacted.
We believe we have the structure, and the resources to face the challenges currently facing the industry.
Also attending the meeting was Ai Services’ Group Chief Executive (CEO) Larry Burke. He said:
I took over the role of group CEO a year ago, having previously been the General Manager of Eurogene, based in Co Tipperary.
The Ai Services’ Group comprises Ai Services (Northern Ireland) Ltd and Eurogene Ai Services.
I have been directly involved in the animal genetics industry for more than 30 years.
In the future Ai Services’ Group will play a key role in delivering the full range of genetics-related technologies and advice to Irish dairy and beef farmers, which they will need to secure the future sustainability of their businesses.
Larry Burke continued:
We realise that in order to make this happen will require continued investments in new technologies, the infrastructure of the business and the people delivering our fast-expanding range of services. Our plans are fully in place to make all of this happen.
The Ai Services’ Group is much more than a semen supply company. The business is already an industry leader in the provision of Ai technician services, embryo transfer, synchronisation services, DIY AI training, and pregnancy scanning services.
According to Larry Burke, the future of the Ai Services’ Group will be centred on the application of new science and having the people within our organisation with the skill set to effectively advise farmers on how best to implement these new technologies within their own businesses. He explained:
Change is impacting at a very fast rate, where the implementation of genetic advancement is concerned. Take the example of sexed semen as a case in point. Ten years ago, sexed semen was cutting edge technology.
Now, almost all of our dairy sires are available sexed.
Moreover, farmer confidence in this technology has reached the stage where they are confident to use sexed straws on both heifers and mature cows.
This single development has brought very significant and positive change with regard to the development of breeding programmes followed on dairy farms throughout Ireland.
This is just the beginning of the advancement of technology in this space and Ai Services will be at the forefront in delivery of this to our customers.
Given this fast-changing scenario Larry Burke confirmed the recent appointment of Dr Debbie McConnell to the position of Ai Services’ Group Scientist as a critically important development for the business.
Science is the future: if we don’t measure it, we can’t manage it.
We now have leading scientist within our senior management team, a development that is unique to any genetics organisation in Ireland.
Debbie is uniquely qualified to recognise how new technologies can best be adapted across the Ai Services Group, while also working closely with farmers to help make that all important difference within their businesses.
The future at Ai Services is all about investment, investment in our people and in our infrastructure. Where the infrastructure of the business is concerned, we have significant plans in place to modernise our bull stud and laboratory facilities at Ballycraigy.
This will be evident in the coming year when we see the redevelopment of the existing stud facilities here at Ballycraigy which will future proof our requirements in this area.
This is further confirmation of our commitment to Ireland’s cattle breeding sector, one which places the needs of our-farmer customers first at all times.
Larry Burke concluded:
The Ai Services Group represents the only all-island genetics organisation, with Ai Services in NI and Eurogene: Ai Services in the Republic of Ireland, making us the largest such organisation on the island. In operating in both jurisdictions, gives us a unique insight into the challenges faced in each region and this in turn gives us valuable perspectives into the solutions we can deliver to our customers.
Change is not an option for Ireland’s livestock sectors: it’s a fundamental requirement for farmers as they look to the future challenges.
Livestock farming’s response to the challenge of climate change alone will require a fundamental mindset change on the part of farmers.
The future is all about improving efficiency levels. But this is a good news story for livestock farmers, from both a future sustainability and food security perspective. The Ai Services’ group is totally committed to working with livestock farmers, so as to ensure that all of this potential will be realised.
The AI Services’ Group has a team capable of providing the reproductive knowledge and the genetic expertise to maximise our customers potential into the future. We will provide tailored genetic solutions to fit the needs of our customers.