Irish Cattle
Breeding Federation

Welcome to the G€N€ IR€LAND® Beef program - 2010, a new and exciting initiative aimed at improving the quality of our national suckler herd. The program is focused on maternal traits, with young bulls being selected on the basis of genetic potential for:

• Good milk & fertility (in their daughters)
• Good growth & conformation (in calves from these daughters).

The key points from the program include:

• Bulls are selected for the program on the basis of the new €uro-Star indexes for maternal beef replacement value (milk & fertility + calf quality). Details of the bulls on this year’s program are available below.
• Breeds that are available on this year’s program include Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, Simmental, Angus, Blonde, Belgian Blue, Parthenaise, Shorthorn and Saler. Additional breeds may be added to the program during the year. The bulls will be chosen by the farmer and may be either mixed breeds or a single breed.
• Target minimum usage is between 10 and 25 straws (min 2 bulls x 5 straws each). However, this will be influenced by the number of bulls available for certain breeds.
• Straws will be charged at €5/straw but costs will be reimbursed for each straw used and recorded (i.e. €20/recorded test bull insemination). Payment will be €400 for 20 recorded inseminations.

The Team of Bulls.

The team of bulls presently on the panel are given in Table 1. All are selected for combined replacement value (calf quality + milk/fertility).

Pictures and €uro-Star details of the bulls are available be clicking the link on the Bull Code below

If you are interested in participating in the G€N€ IR€LAND® Beef program - 2010, or have any questions in relation to the program, please contact ICBF (045 521573 or 1850 600 900 or email nkilrane@icbf.com or text the word BULL Beef to 51101), or alternatively contact your local semen sales advisor.