MINSK, 4 April (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia have plans to establish joint breeding and genetics centers, Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats told reporters on 4 April, BelTA has learned.
The minister said that the meeting held in Saint Petersburg on 3 April discussed matters related to the establishment of joint breeding and genetics centers with a view to reducing the import of pedigree stock. “The countries of Europe are facing serious animal health problems, including avian flu, African swine fever, bluetongue disease and other diseases. This is unsafe for our country, so we should preserve what we have achieved in livestock farming,” he emphasized.
The breeding and genetics centers will likely be set up at the research agencies of the two countries. Plans have been made to establish centers for dairy cattle breeding, pig breeding, and broiler farming. “We should preserve our potential in genetics and animal breeding,” Leonid Zayats said.
The minister noted that the matter will be discussed at the session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State to be held in Russia in the near future.
