Hot spot for Australian bull semen as China market re-opens

Australian bull semen is once again being sent to China, marking the first exports of Australian cattle genetics to the People's Republic in five years. A total of 24,000 straws of semen were exported in April and May this year, signaling a significant resumption of trade.

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got some of the best Wagyu bulls and Angus bulls available around the world.

Genetics company ABS Australia has secured a major export agreement with China for Wagyu, Jersey, and Holstein semen, with potential for other breeds to be included. Bruce Ronalds, business operations manager at ABS Australia, highlighted that Australia possesses some of the best Wagyu and Angus bulls globally, which breeders in China are eager to utilize.

ABS China commercial director Snow Wu stated that Chinese farmers are seeking to enhance their productivity, efficiency, and the quality of beef produced. She noted a growing demand for premium beef products, particularly in traditional dining and hot pot markets. Wu also mentioned an increase in China's dairy herd and milk production, with interest in Australian Wagyu sires for crossbreeding with Chinese dairy cows to improve beef quality and profitability.

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Breeders in China are pretty excited to start using them within their herds.

The five-year break in exports began in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when China closed its borders to Australian cattle genetics. Prior to this, China was Australia's largest market for cattle semen and embryos. The General Administration of Customs China re-accredited the Total Livestock Genetics export facility in October last year, paving the way for the resumption of these exports.

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We are seeing increasing demand for premium beef products in China, particularly in traditional dining and hot pot markets.

The export of cattle semen and embryos represents a substantial business for Australian cattle producers. Australian government figures show that last year alone, 324,357 units of bovine reproductive material were sent overseas, significantly outpacing the 22,000 units of sheep genetics sent in 2025.

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On-farm, using Australian Wagyu sires over Chinese dairy cows allows producers to improve beef quality and profitability while maximising existing dairy herds.