Mr. Speaker, there is good news in Quebec's agricultural sector: the Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec, the Conseil québécois des races laitières and the Conseil provincial des cercles d'amélioration du bétail have bought the Centre d'insémination artificielle du Québec, or CIAQ.
This artificial insemination centre is a strategic tool for the development of Quebec's cattle industry. For 50 years, it has been a loyal partner, helping to promote the evolution of dairy farms in Quebec by supplying quality products and striving to bring about genetic improvement.
The new limited partnership can point to universally recognized achievements. The reputation of the now celebrated bull, Starbuck, whose descendants number over 450,000, is well known. One of his offspring, Rodolphe, continues to supply the CIAQ and could well leave behind even more progeny than his father.
The CIAQ controls over 80% of Quebec's artificial insemination market and 45% of the Canadian market.
We wish all Quebec's dairy cattle farmers and the 125 employees of the CIAQ a very successful future.