OTTAWA, Canada – Canada has secured market access in the Ukraine for live cattle, government officials announced Aug. 27. Officials with the Canadian government negotiated an agreement that will send purebred live cattle for genetics and breeding purposes to the Ukraine in a deal worth nearly $12 million over the next three years.

Canada recently restored market access for live swine and gained new market access for swine genetics to Ukraine. However, Canada shipped cattle to Ukraine only once in the 1980's as part of a project for the Canada-Ukraine Artificial Insemination Centre.

"CLGA is pleased that these sometimes difficult negotiations have concluded with a positive decision for Canadian and for Ukrainian producers," said Rick McRonald, executive director of the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association (CLGA). "Canada-Ukraine dairy genetics cooperation began in the 1970's and has continued through good times and bad. We are happy to see this very positive development."