BRITISH cattle genetics proved a big hit with the Australians at the giant Beef 2003 show in Queensland

Orders for embryos and semen from around 20 breeds, including Angus,

Charolais, Hereford, South Devon and Limousin, were taken by British companies, said Meat and Livestock Commission Livestock Export Manager Henry Lewis.

Value of the orders taken at the show reached more than £100,000 and Henry believes the potential market in Australia for British genetics could be well over £1 million a year.

Henry, who is also Chairman of the British Livestock Genetics Consortium, said the influence of British genetics was very noticeable both on Australian farms and at the show itself.

He said: "What the Australian breeders want is cattle which are easy calving and which thrive in a grazing environment - which our cattle do, including European breeds which have been established in Australia via imports from Britain.

"I was very pleasantly surprised by the level of interest shown in our genetics. There is a big potential market here for us which is a great encouragement to our own cattle industry."