The Gene Ireland Progeny test centre recently slaughtered 49 bulls at Slaney Foods International, Bunclody, Co. Wexford. The progeny were sired by 25 different AI sires across 10 different breeds. The group consisted of 49 September, October and November 2016 born bulls.
The average carcass weight for the group was 420 kilos. They average daily gain for the group during their 88 day performance test period was 2.15 kilos per head per day. The average growth rate within the group ranged from 1.05 kilograms to 2.89 kilograms per head per day. The average kill-out for the group was 59%, with kill-out ranging from 51% to 64%.
Overall the animals graded extremely well with 12 of the bulls grading E, 33 of the bulls being of U grade conformation, 4 grading in the R grade class. 92% of the 49 bulls met the carcass fat specifications of 2+ or higher, this was a great achievement for young bulls. The average dry matter intake (DMI) per day for the group was 14.3 kilograms, with bulls consuming from 11.4 to 15.9 kilos per head per day on a DMI basis.
The bulls were fed hay and ad lib concentrates over their 88 day finishing period. Overall the bulls performed exceptionally well for their age and were gaining 1.27 kilos of carcass for each day they were on test at Tully. The data demonstrates the large variation in performance between progeny in a young bull system.
See below photos of some of the progeny slaughtered.
All individual data on animals slaughtered recently can be found by clicking here.
Key points
| Finishing Period | 88 days |
| Number of Bulls | 49 |
| Number of Breeds | 10 |
| Number of Bulls | 25 |
| Average DMI | 14.3 |
| Highest ADG | 2.89 |
| Avg. Carcase weight | 420 |
| No. of bulls hitting carcass fat spec | 92% |
| Tag Number | IE371189980758 |
| Breed | BA |
| Sire | SGA (SCAUGHMOLIN G MAIL) |
| Dry Matter Intake | 13.43 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 6.72 |
| Initial Liveweight | 486 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 674 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 416 kgs |
| Kill out | 62% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | E-2= |
| Tag Number | IE361061830626 |
| Breed | CH |
| Sire | HZJ (LISNAGRE HANDSOME) |
| Dry Matter Intake | 15.37 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.14 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 7.18 |
| Initial Liveweight | 624 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 812 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 469 kgs |
| Kill out | 58% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U+3+ |
| Tag Number | IE201394850254 |
| Breed | LM |
| Sire | LM2014 (EWDENVALE IVOR) |
| Dry Matter Intake | 14.71 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.21 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 6.69 |
| Initial Liveweight | 562 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 770 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 475 kgs |
| Kill out | 62% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U+3- |
| Tag Number | IE141632480431 |
| Breed | LM |
| Sire | ZAG (CASTLEVIEW GAZELLE) |
| Dry Matter Intake | 13.82 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.56 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 5.4 |
| Initial Liveweight | 477 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 702 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 417 kgs |
| Kill out | 59% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U+3= |
| Tag Number | IE341454770374 |
| Breed | PI |
| Sire | PI2157 (KILREE LEO) |
| Dry Matter Intake | 13.07 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 1.86 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 7.03 |
| Initial Liveweight | 479 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 654 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 395 kgs |
| Kill out | 60% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | E-2+ |
| Tag Number | IE361061820617 |
| Breed | SI |
| Sire | AHC (AUROCH DEUTER PP) |
| Dry Matter Intake | 14.06 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.39 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 5.88 |
| Initial Liveweight | 548 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 758 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 441 kgs |
| Kill out | 58% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U+ 3- |
| Tag Number | IE141632480456 |
| Breed | LM |
| Sire | ONI (ON-DIT) |
| Dry Matter Intake | 13.63 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.11 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 6.46 |
| Initial Liveweight | 524 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 710 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 434 kgs |
| Kill out | 61% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | E-2+ |