Cattle Breeders to Pay Cargill Licensing Fees to Conduct Genetic Work

In Australia, breeders and researchers conducting genetic research or testing will have to pay a licensing fee to Cargill USA and Branhaven LLC every time they want to conduct any genetic work on their beef and dairy cattle. Industry associations Meat and Livestock Australia and Dairy Australia are fighting the patent application which was accepted by Australia’s patent office. The decision gives Cargill and Branhaven the patent to the bovine genome in Australia and allows them to charge a licensing fee every time a breeder or researcher wishes to do any genetic research, testing, or project on any cattle trait. MLA is reaching out to breeders and researchers to let them know of the implications and is heading up the appeal which is expected to go to court in 2017.