A• Westholme to launch upgraded website Jan 2004

The Westholme website is being upgraded. This will consist of both visual changes and improvements in content and format. We also intend adding a Spanish page for improved service to our South American clients. We are targeting January for release of this new and hopefully improved version.

There will also be a guest book for you to register your contact and on a 6 monthly basis, we will conduct a lottery with a free semen package for the winning guest. Your comments on the guest page regarding the new site or suggested further improvements are welcomed.

B• Westholme announces new semen prices commencing Jan 2004

Semen prices for Westholme Group 1 Sires 001, 002 & 003 are being revised for 2004 and will be released in Jan 2004. Changes are not major and hopefully will help to make our semen available to a wider group of interested buyers.

Selected new A Group Sires; Sons of 001, 002, 003, 006 & 007 are also presently having their semen collected for release in Australia and other international countries. This semen will be on sale at approx. 50% of the Group 1 Sires (001, 002 & 003).

Semen packages prices at significant savings with a mix of Groups 1 & 2 Sires will also be released in January. These will be in 10 straw & 30 straw packs.

All Group 1 Sires Semen sold in December 2003 will be at 2004 prices.

C• Westholme begins accreditation process to qualify for semen & embryo export.

For some years Westholme has received but not satisfied requests for genetics from various international markets. Other than sales to Canada, USA (now stopped), New Zealand & Australia, we have not supplied enquiries from the EU, South America and some Asian markets. We are now collecting Semen from sons of 001, 002, 003, 006 & 007 for export to selected international markets.

More comprehensive details will be provided in the January website relaunch.

D• Westholme withdraws sale of all genetics into the USA market.
      Sales will continue in Canada and other international markets.

Westholme directors have decided to withdraw all semen from sale in the USA.

This decision was not taken lightly but was prompted by further recently received proof that U.S. entities including Wagyu businesses and a well known U.S. University who were entrusted some years ago with semen for progeny testing and who in all cases subsequently reported tank faults or gas leaks and loss of all semen, have in fact created and sold embryos and sold semen from this supposedly lost, freely provided progeny test semen. The Sires in question were 001 Hirashige-Tayasu, 002 Itomoritaka and 003 Kitateruyasu-doi.

If you are offered semen or embryos by these bulls, you could be dealing in stolen goods. Customers of semen or embryos by these sires who are based in USA, Canada or South America who wish to follow up on these illegally sold genetics will be welcomed. Please contact our Brisbane office.

E• Long-feed trials at Stockyard and Macquarie Downs show early promise.

Westholme has had many steers and heifers undergoing long feeding trials at Stockyard's Kerwee Feedlot in Queensland and at Macquarie Downs also in Queensland. (see pictures below)

These trials are being conducted on a team basis between Westholme, Stockyard and Macquarie Downs with shared learning and shared advice on Japanese feeding techniques.

Recent inspections concluded that 2 steers were ready for slaughter and the resulting carcasses graded 9+ on the Austmeat scoring system.

It is our intention to publish pictures of carcasses and provide other information relative to these trials. Stay tuned!