Lionel Mackey and his father Ernest Mackey run a herd of pedigree Aubracs in Donard, Co. Wicklow. The herd consists of around 30 cows and calves and operates under the pedigree prefix ‘Balinclea’. (more…)
ICBF has just published the 2019 beef calving statistics reports for suckler herds subscribed to the HerdPlus service. Average calving interval has unfortunately slipped from 396 days in 2018 to 401 days in 2019. (more…)
ICBF will be present at this year’s National Ploughing Championships as part of the live demonstrations at the Irish Farmers Journal stand (Block 2, Row 18, Stand 403). (more…)
The November evaluation will be published on 21st November. The final date to have any DNA samples (hair/tissue/AI straws) returned to ICBF in order to have a genomic evaluation published November 21st, is Wed11th September. (more…)
The 2019 Beef Calving Statistics report can now be viewed online by HerdPlus members.These will be posted to herd owners next week. (more…)
Of the beef breeds that have been brought into Ireland – the Hereford, Shorthorn & Angus breeds are here by far the longest. (more…)
The following is a list of the most popular beef AI sires in suckler herds in 2018 (more…)
ICBF has recently undertaken analysis for AI service trends for the past 2 years in the beef suckler herd. Overall AI usage has decreased nationally by 6% from 2017-2018 . This correlates with the reduction of suckler cow numbers that has also taken place during the same period. (more…)
55% of all pedigree calves are sired by AI Sires. The proportion of calves sired by AI Sires ranges from 25% (Aubrac) to 92% (Belgian Blue). (more…)