Livestock get paired up online
Livestock can now meet their perfect match through the Internet, thanks to a website launched yesterday by the Agricultural Development Ministry which aims to help farmers improve the quality of their herds. The website, part of a program called the Genetic Improvement of Animals, allows breeders to submit details of their beasts, including bloodlines, so that buyers can log on and judge whether they will benefit from introducing them to their herds. The ministry hopes that the site will help in producing healthier and more productive livestock in Greece. Experts told Kathimerini that a normal cow produces some 3 tons of milk a year compared to a cow that is a product of genetic improvement, which can produce up to 11 tons of milk each year. In the Netherlands, where genetic improvement has been implemented, cows produce on average 1.6 tons of milk more than in Greece. If the program is successful, officials say Greek farmers will be able to increase their output thanks to a sound breeding program and without a massive outlay.
