Autumn Gene Ireland Dairy Programme Launched
ICBF has just launched its new Gene Ireland Dairy catalogue for Autumn 2013. There are 5 high indexed bulls in the new catalogue (more…)
Tully Open Day to Show-case Top AI Progeny
The Gene Ireland Beef Open Day taking place on Saturday 12th October, will show-case commercial progeny from some of the top AI sires that have gone through the national breeding program over the past number of years. (more…)
Gene Ireland Beef Program Launched
The 2013 Gene Ireland Beef program has just been launched, with over 2,000 catalogues been posted to suckler herds.This initiative is aimed at improving the quality of our National suckler herd. (more…)
Dairy Calving Report Calving Interval
Further fertility improvements in the National Dairy Herd
Following last week’s release of the HerdPlus® Dairy Calving reports, ICBF can report further improvement has taken place in the fertility performance of the national dairy herd,with the average calving interval having improved by 3 days (more…)
Gene Ireland starts purchasing beef bulls
The Gene Ireland maternal beef breeding program is starting to purchase bulls, which is a major step forward for Irish beef breeding. A total of 20-25 bulls are expected to be purchased over the next number of weeks, with semen then available from these bulls for the 2014 program. (more…)
Distribution of sires, based on % PI calves for BVD virus.
BVD Incidence is 10% Heritable
“Some bulls had 20% of their calves infected with BVD, whilst other bulls had 0% calves infected with BVD. Why is this?” This was the question posed by Dr Donagh Berry, Teagasc, at last week’s ICBF beef and dairy industry meeting in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise. (more…)
New ICBF Web Site
Welcome to the updated ICBF web site. Here is some brief information that might help you find your way. (more…)
Gene Ireland Maternal Bull Breeder Program
In 2012, ICBF completed a major review of its beef Gene Ireland (GI) program. One of the key outcomes from the review was the need to increase the number of beef bulls being progeny tested on an annual basis. (more…)
Richard Geary Seamount, Currabinny, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, shares a joke with Munster Cattle Breeding Group AI technician Tom Tobin while he inseminates one of Richard’s cows with sexed semen project semen. Picture by Donal O’ Leary IFJ.
Sexed Semen Field Research Trial
ICBF, Teagasc and partner AI companies (Dovea Genetics, Munster Cattle Breeding and Progressive Genetics) undertook a major field research trial this Spring, to evaluate the potential benefits of sexed semen under commercial Irish conditions. (more…)