Genus and Sexing still battling over semen

Animal genetics company Genus announced the first jury verdicts in its antitrust litigation against Inguran, operating as Sexing Technologies, relating to ABS's ‘Genus Sexed Semen’ processing technology.

The FTSE 250 firm said that at the trial in the US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, where the verdicts were announced yesterday, the jury found that ABS and Genus had proved that Sexing had wilfully maintained monopoly power in the market for sexed bovine semen processing in the US since July 2012.

It was reported that the jury also found Genus had not proved that it had suffered injury as a result of Sexing's wilful maintenance of monopoly power.

“The jury has still to consider Sexing's counter claims related to two of its US patents, and Sexing's counter claims that Genus breached confidentiality obligations under the 2012 semen sorting agreement between the parties,” Genus’ board said in a statement.

“The jury is expected to deliver verdicts on these matters shortly.

“In addition the jury will also consider, if applicable, a verdict on damages in relation to these matters later this week,” it added.

Genus described GSS as a novel technology for sexing bovine semen that does not subject the sperm cells to high pressures and forces.

Dairy farmers have a preference for female calves, the company said, and the use of gender skewed sexed semen in artificial insemination provides customers with female calves from ABS's elite genetic lines.

The commercial launch of GSS product would provide ABS customers and third party bull studs with an alternative service provider and increased competition in the market for the processing of sexed bovine semen, Genus asserted.