AN inaccurate pedigree listing has cost a well-known Wagga Wagga, NSW, cattle stud more than $200,000 following a NSW District Court ruling in Sydney last week.
The civil matter is set to have far-reaching implications for the stud breeding industry given the fact monetary value directly relates to the depth and accuracy of a pedigree.
An Irelands Angus bull sold in September 2015 was found to have incorrect sire pedigree published in the stud's on-property sale catalogue.
Irelands Angus was ordered to pay $200,191.88 to bull buyer William Graham, Bongongo Angus stud, Coolac, NSW, who purchased Irelands Kelleher K34 for $18,000, almost four years ago.
Information presented in court last Tuesday showed K34 was listed in the auction catalogue as the son of Granite Ridge Thomas F223 and out of Ireland's Lowan B107.
But, DNA testing undertaken at the request of the plaintiff after the sale established Granite Ridge Thomas F223 was not K34's sire.
Mr Graham told the court K34 was purchased for breeding purposes because he fitted well in to the program.
"Of great significance to his decision to proceed with the purchase was the representation that K34 was listed as HBR because he was the progeny of Granite Ridge Thomas and B107," he said.
This indicated that, if joined with registered females, his progeny would be registered as stud cattle and therefore of higher market value than commercial cattle.
The Angus Society undertook DNA testing of a sample of tail hair taken from K34 on October 22, 2015, who on December 16, 2015, advised that Granite Ridge Thomas was not his sire.
Ireland stud principal Corey Ireland advised the court that he was confident the records he maintained of his breeding stock were accurate and in good order.
He explained at the time, practices concerning DNA testing were developing and the industry was working towards embracing it.
He personally did not take the samples.
This was done by his employees but he was confident care was taken to ensure each sample was properly marked and identified to the bull from which it was taken.
Mr Ireland was unable to explain how the error in relation to K34 occurred.
Angus Society chief executive officer Peter Parnell gave evidence in court that K34 remained on the breed register.
This was a mistake, Mr Parnell said, that would be rectified by his exclusion.
There was no doubt in Mr Parnell's mind that, without a registered sire, neither K34 nor his progeny was eligible for registration as stud or breeding cattle.
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
