Cattle Breeding in Ireland.
Dr Andrew Cromie, Technical Director ICBF.
Irish Cattle Breeding.
• Co-ordinated by Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).
– A co-operative of 30 cattle breeding organisations (AI,
Herdbooks & Milk Recording organisations) & 2 Farm
Organisations.
• Established the ICBF central database in 2002.
– Now the cornerstone of the Irish cattle industry.
• Focused on “profit from science”.
• High level of farmer trust - independent genetic
evaluations are key.
• World-leading (research => implementation).
– 2nd in world to launch dairy genomics, after US.
– Beef Genomics => largest livestock genomics project globally.
2
MEMBERS, BOARD & SHARES - ICBF
Board
DAFF - 1
Shares
AI -18%
AI - 3
MR - 18%
MR - 3
HB - 3
FO - 6
HB - 18%
FO - 46%
Stakeholders in cattle breeding control
decision making.
AI
Companies
Genetic
Evaluation
System
Milk
Recording
Herd Books
Ped. Certs & Linears
Calf reg & movement
Dairy &
Beef
Farmers
AI
Companies
Genetic
Evaluation
System
Less paper,
more profit!
Herd Books
Ped. Certs & Linears
Calf reg & movement
ICBF
Database
Milk
Recording
Animal Events
Dairy &
Beef
Farmers
1m AI recs/yr
AI
Companies
30m
animals
with
100m+
records.
Calf reg & movements
1.6 m carcass
Slaughter
recs/yr
Bulk Tank
Factories
100k
farmers
are now
serviced
from the
database.
Marts &
auctioneers
Milk Coops
Reports
Ped. Certs & Linears
ICBF
Database
System
Milk
Recording
7.0 m movement
records/yr
Teagasc
Research
Evaluation
700k MR recs/yr
Herd Books
Genetic
Schemes, e.g.,
BVD, BGDP,
Origin Green
2.3 m birth recs/yr
Animal Events
Dairy &
Beef
Farmers
2.3m BVD
recs/yr
Vets & vet
labs.
Genotypes
& gen labs.
Teagasc500k
& genotype
ACA Advisorsrecs/yr
Typical Irish dairy farm; 80 cows,
calving from mid-Feb (in line with grass
growth in Spring) and ending lactation
by mid-December.
7
Where we started; Irish dairy herd 2000
Evolution of the EBI (2000–2016)
• The ideal Irish dairy cow; High milk solids (500 kg
MS/cow/year) & excellent fertility (CI = 365 days).
9
© ConsultWickham 2014
Genetics Works; Example EBI
2016. Next Gen Herd
Genetic Trends in EBI (1996 - 2015).
€200.0
2009. Establish Genomics;
Rate of gain doubled
EBI
€180.0
Milk Index
€160.0
Fertility Index
€140.0
2005. Establish G€N€ IR€
€120.0
2002. Establish
ICBF & EBI
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
€0.0
2009
€20.0
2008
€40.0
EBI has delivered ~€587
additional profit to industry
since 2002. With current rate
of gain expect to double
(€1.15bn) by 2020.
2007
€60.0
2006
€80.0
2005
€100.0
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Impact; Teagasc Next
Generation Herd.
Current lactation
performance.
Days in milk
Concentrates fed (kg/cow)
Milk yield (kg/cow)
Fat (%)
Protein (%)
Milk solids (kg/cow)
Submission 3 weeks (%)
6 wk in-calf rate (%)
12 wk in-calf rate (%)
Control (National
Average on EBI)
228
532
5177
4.18
3.47
394
92%
55%
82%
Elite (Top 1% on
EBI)
231
546
5074
4.50
3.66
412
96%
77%
98%
• The ideal Irish dairy cow; High milk solids (500 kg
MS/cow/year) & excellent fertility (CI = 365 days). The
Top 1% cows in Next Gen Herd will achieve this.
11
Impact; ICBF Active Bull List
(Top 75 available AI bulls ranked on EBI).
10 years ago, all of the
highest EBI bulls in Ireland
were imported, now they
are all Irish bred.
12
Genetic Trends within Irish
Suckler Beef Industry.
Within our Suckler Beef Industry, there has
been a past heavy focus on terminal traits.
No gain in key maternal traits.
13
€uro-Star Replacement Index.
Trait
Calving
Feed Intake
Goal
Less
Less
Relative wt
16%
18%
Carcass wt (for age)
Maternal milk
Female fertility
Docility
More
More
More
More
21%
18%
23%
4%
• The ideal Irish beef cow; A weaned calf every
year of good weight & quality.
All Suckler Cows
Cow Details
Star
Rating
No. of
Cows
 33,493
Milk Performance
Replacement % Still
Index
Alive
Fertility Performance
Calf
Age 1st Calving
Cow Milk
Weaning
Calving Interval
Score (1-5)
Weight (kg)
(months) (days)
Progeny Carcass
Performance
No. of
Calvings
Carcass
Weight
(kg)
Age at
Carcass
Slaughter
Value
(days)
€108
83%
336
4.08
30.2
403
2.69
358
€1,474
697

24,317
€76
80%
324
3.87
30.9
407
2.56
356
€1,469
712

21,644
€60
79%
319
3.74
31.3
411
2.47
356
€1,470
715

20,908
€43
76%
315
3.61
31.5
416
2.40
357
€1,475
721

23,911
€12
72%
309
3.36
32.1
423
2.25
357
€1,477
726
+€96
11%
27kg
0.72
-1.9
months
-20
days
0.44
calves
0kg
€-2
-29
days
Difference
5 Star V's 1 Star
Performance of all suckler females, born in 2011, when ranked on new genomic test proofs
The Irish Beef Genomics Scheme.
• Focused on breeding more profitable,
sustainable and carbon efficient cows.
• Funded from EU Rural Development Program.
• €300m total funding 6 years (2015-2020)
– Farmers paid ~€90/cow/year to complete key
actions re: the scheme.
– ~500k animals genotyped to-date. ~2.5m animals
in total will be genotyped during period of
scheme. Cost of genomic service is €22/animal.
• Building Ireland toward DNA based calf
registration (& increased genetic gain).
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Summary.
• Genetics works.
• Agriculture is undergoing a DNA technology
revolution.
• Ireland is at the front edge of that revolution.
• Strong partnership between ICBF, DAFM,
Teagasc, cattle industry & farmers is allowing
this happen.
• Opportunities to grow the use of the
Genomics (and related services) in the future,
nationally and internationally
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