The Gene Ireland Spring 2024 sign ups have now concluded after what has been a hugely successful season.
Across both the Dairy Beef and Suckler Beef programmes, a combined total of 810 commercial farmers have ordered a pack of the new high index beef bulls. This huge total is real proof of what can be achieved when, through collaboration, our cattle breeding industry pools its resources in pursuit a of a common goal. This deep engagement extends from pedigree breeders, commercial farmers, Teagasc, ICBF, processors and the participating AI companies.
2nd highest bull on the DBI panel with a beef sub-index of €122.
It is the first spring where over 600 dairy farmers have ordered a pack of the beef bulls. This means that as an industry we now have the capacity to test at least 45 high index dairy beef bulls within a single breeding season. Add to this the 6 bulls tested in the suckler herd to give a grand total test capacity of at least 51 beef bulls per season. A figure that would have been scarcely believable in the very recent past.
The focus now switches to the critical data recording work which the integrated ICBF database makes possible. The first piece of data pursued is a recorded insemination which will allow ICBF to accurately evaluate each bull for actual gestation length when the calves are eventually born next spring. In cases where the AI technician has a handheld device – this data flows into ICBF immediately. Alternatively, DIY users can record the data themselves either directly with ICBF or via their farm software provider. In terms of the 2024 born calf crop, large numbers of these animals will be weighed over the coming months to give clear sight of the average growth rate of the progeny from the bulls distributed in 2023. Finally, for the bulls distributed in 2022, over the next few months, many of their progeny will move into the Tully Research centre where they will be assessed for growth rate, feed efficiency, methane production, water intake, carcass performance and even meat-eating quality. A truly holistic national breeding programme which efficiently captures data from conception to ingestion.
Ever onwards the cycle repeats with the AI companies currently actively seeking young high index beef bulls which will be distributed to the growing cohort of commercial dairy and beef farmers for progeny testing in 2025.
If you are interested in getting involved in the GI programme at any step along the journey or have any general queries on the above – please contact Niall Kilrane on 045 521573 or by email at [email protected].