The ICBF animal search facility has had over 3.7 million individual hits for the year 2017. This is an impressive statistic and shows just how much dairy and beef farmers, including people from the breeding industry value the animal search.The ICBF animal search gives users up to date genetic and progeny performance information on AI bulls, stock bulls and as of this year females located in a BDGP or HerdPlus herd.
Table 1
Breakdown of usage of ICBF Animal Search facility 2017.
As can be seen from table 1 the total number of searches carried out on the ICBF animal search in 2017 was over 3.7 million. This is an increase of over 850,000 hits verses 2016 figures. This was the first full calendar year that the ‘ICBF Animal Search’ has been available since changing from the ‘Bull Search’ earlier in 2016. This now means that users can search for males but can also now search for females (in BDGP or HerdPlus herd). There has been over 635,000 female searches carried out in 2017.
Table 2
Detailed breakdown of usage of ICBF Animal Search facility (Males only).
Information from table 2 shows us that Beef sire searches for 2017 were just over 2 million. 2017 has seen an increase in beef sire searches of over 375,000 hits compared to 2016. This is most likely due to the continuation of the BDGP (Beef, Data and Genomics Programme). From the data in table 2 we can see the positive benefits that the BDGP is having on the industry. With beef sire searches at an all time high for both AI and stockbulls, this shows us that users are showing more interest in genetic indexes and with the increased profitability that comes from higher index animals (4 and 5 star), these increases are really encouraging for the industry.
Data from table 2 indicates that there has also been an increase in the number of Dairy bulls searched in 2017 vs 2016. There has been over 1 million dairy searches carried out in 2017. This high level of interest in the animal search facility confirms the confidence that users have in Dairy EBI (Economic Breeding Index) and Beef Eurostar as a means to accurately rank AI and stock bulls. The animal search facility displays animal data including identification, ancestry, genetic and performance data. This facility allows anyone to check all available details on any given pedigree registered bull and as of 2016 females located in a BDGP or HerdPlus herd.
High Level of Interest in Stock Bulls
As can be seen from Table 2, the number of stock bulls searched is very high. Stock bull searches made up 49% of total male searches in the animal search facility. This is an extremely high number considering the animal search was initially designed to support the querying of data on AI bulls.
As a result animal search users can make a more informed choice when it comes to selecting a stock bull for breeding. The animal search gives a full breakdown of each bull’s breeding potential including index, reliability, progeny and ancestry performance information as well as a host of other useful information for selecting a stock bull.
ICBF Animal Search App
The ICBF animal search app is now available to download free on Apple and Android devices. This app allows the user to search for EBI and €uro-Star figures on the animals in the ICBF Database. The HerdPlus Animal Search app allows users to search the genetic index figures (EBI and €uro-Star)on animals in the ICBF database. Animals must be located in herds signed up to the HerdPlus service or be participating in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme. This app helps herd-owners make more informed decisions when buying or selling animals as well as when breeding. It also contains the Active AI bulls in order of genetic index.
Top 10 Most Searched Sires 2017
Tables 3 and 4 below indicate the top 10 bulls for beef and dairy searched in 2017.
Table 3
| Top 10 Most Searched Beef Sires 2017 | |||
| Rank | Bull | Bull Name | Count |
| 1 | ZAG | CASTLEVIEW GAZELLE | 17,287 |
| 2 | EBY | ELDERBERRY GALAHAD | 9,723 |
| 3 | FSZ | FISTON | 9,630 |
| 4 | LZF | CAVELANDS FENIAN | 6,893 |
| 5 | KJB | BROOKLANDS F0959 | 5,914 |
| 6 | OKH | KELTIC HANDSOME | 5,817 |
| 7 | KYA | CORNAMUCKLA LORD HARDY K222 | 5,177 |
| 8 | S1421 | AMPERTAINE FOREMAN | 5,060 |
| 9 | SA4059 | BEGUIN | 5,060 |
| 10 | GWO | CASTLEVIEW GRINGO ET | 4,984 |
Table 4
| Top 10 Most Searched Dairy Sires 2017 | |||
| Rank | Bull | Bull Name | Count |
| 1 | SEW | SEAROAD AWS PAMELA 1 | 7,349 |
| 2 | FR2385 | (IG) NEXTGEN YKG CANDY 593 | 5,039 |
| 3 | FR2249 | COOLNASOON ART | 4,532 |
| 4 | LWR | (IG) LONGVIEW RELIABLE | 4,475 |
| 5 | FR4021 | (IG) BALLINTESKIN ARNOLD | 4,423 |
| 6 | FR2239 | (IG) DIAMOND ANTON | 4,011 |
| 7 | GZY | GADDAGH CUDDY REEKS | 3,962 |
| 8 | FR2298 | (IG) OLCASTLETOWN RONALDO | 3,792 |
| 9 | HZB | (IG) BALLYDEHOB PAT 1356 | 3,746 |
| 10 | FR2371 | (IG) ARDRAGOLD PARKER | 3,576 |
The animal search facility is located on the bottom right of the front page or you can search any bull now by clicking here.