A Waikato farmer is demanding compensation after a genetic mutation in a commercial breeding bull created unusually hairy calves that are getting into water troughs to cool off.

The organisation that provided the bull semen, Hamilton-based dairy genetics company Livestock Improvement (LIC), said it would not pay compensation as the genetic mutation is ''naturally occurring'', meaning it did not result from anything LIC did.

If it was liable and did pay compensation, LIC says it could be exposed for nearly $2 million.

South Waikato farmer Craig Littin is one of about 900 affected farmers nationwide, including about 400 farmers in the Waikato. About 1500 calves, all heifers, are understood to be affected, as carriers of the genetic mutation.

Littin said he had 10 defective calves bred from semen bought from LIC.

The defective semen is from a holstein-friesian bull called Matrix, by a holstein-friesian sire called Halcyon.

"The Matrix calves have come out really funny. They are extremely hairy and are doing really strange things, like sitting in water troughs to try and control their body temperature," Littin said.

The Lichfield dairy farmer, who runs a cross-bred herd, said LIC should pay him full compensation for the defective animals.

LIC confirmed there was a genetic mutation in Matrix, inherited from its sire, which has affected about half the female calves bred from the Matrix semen.

LIC also confirmed the traits from the mutation, which include excessive hairiness and a lack of heat tolerance. It has received about 40 complaints from farmers.

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Genetics company refuses to cover defective calves

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