Ireland’s National Dairy Breeding Programme Driving Genetic Progress
The Dairy Gene Ireland Breeding Programme is Ireland’s national dairy breeding initiative, designed to improve the genetic merit of the national dairy herd through a coordinated progeny testing programme. By providing farmers with access to high-EBI, high-genetic-merit bulls, the programme plays a central role in delivering long-term genetic gain and supporting more efficient, profitable and sustainable dairy production systems across Ireland.
Dairy Gene Ireland 2026 – Key Figures
Participation in the Dairy Gene Ireland programme remained strong in 2026, reflecting continued industry confidence:
- 493 herds signed up
- 19,466 straws dispatched
- 53 bulls tested
These figures highlight both the scale and continued growth of the programme across Ireland.
How the Dairy Gene Ireland Programme Works
The Dairy Gene Ireland programme focuses on the progeny testing of young, high-genetic-merit bulls. These bulls are identified and nominated by AI companies and are sourced from Irish herds with strong genetic backgrounds. Selection is based on high EBI and overall genetic merit, ensuring that only the most suitable young bulls enter the programme.
Semen from these bulls is distributed to participating herds, where farmers record key performance data on their daughters. This includes milk production, fertility, calving performance and health traits. This information feeds directly into national genetic evaluations, allowing bulls to reach higher levels of reliability at a younger age.
In 2026 alone, over 182,000 male dairy calves contributed to the programme, ensuring a strong pipeline of future AI sires for the Irish dairy industry.
Benefits of Dairy Gene Ireland for Farmers
Participation in Dairy Gene Ireland provides farmers with early access to some of the highest index young genomic bulls available. This supports faster genetic progress within individual herds while also contributing to national breeding objectives. The programme also represents strong value, with straws typically available at a reduced cost compared to standard AI sires, making high genetic merit more accessible.
In addition, farmers benefit from improved insights into herd performance, as participation supports performance recording and provides valuable data to inform breeding and management decisions. This combination of genetics and data helps farmers make more informed, long-term decisions for their herds.
Data Recording and Farmer Participation
Accurate data recording is fundamental to the success of the Dairy Gene Ireland programme. Participating herds must be members of HerdPlus and record key information, such as insemination dates, sire details, calving performance, and health data for daughters. This information feeds directly into national genetic evaluations and ensures that young bulls achieve high levels of reliability as quickly as possible.
For most farmers, this requirement aligns closely with standard farm practices, meaning participation generally entails minimal additional workload while delivering significant value to both the individual herd and the wider industry.
Recruitment and Farmer Engagement in 2026
Recruitment remains a key focus of the programme each year, supported by a coordinated communication campaign. In 2026, over 4,200 herds were contacted with information on the scheme, followed by an extensive call-out campaign. Farmers were able to sign up through multiple channels, including online registration, paper applications and HerdPlus support, with ongoing updates provided through text messaging and social media.
Feedback from farmers indicates strong interest in accessing high-index young bulls and trialling new genetics within their herds. However, some challenges remain, including a continued preference among certain farmers for proven bulls, as well as the increasing use of sexed semen in specific systems.
Straw Allocation and Bull Selection
Within the Dairy Gene Ireland programme, young bulls are supplied to participating herds in the form of straw packs rather than being individually selected. These packs are made up of a balanced group of high EBI bulls and are designed to provide a broad spread of genetics across herds. Allocation is managed centrally to ensure a fair and effective distribution across all participating farms.
Each year, a new team of young genomic bulls is selected for testing, with a range of options typically available, including Holstein Friesian, pedigree and multi-breed combinations. These packs represent a carefully selected group of sires with strong genetic merit, helping to deliver consistent genetic progress across the national herd.
Driving Genetic Gain in Irish Dairy Farming
The Dairy Gene Ireland Breeding Programme continues to play a vital role in driving genetic improvement within the Irish dairy industry. Through strong farmer participation, high-quality data collection, and close collaboration with AI companies and industry partners, the programme ensures a consistent supply of high-genetic-merit sires.
By strengthening the genetic foundation of the national herd, Dairy Gene Ireland is supporting more efficient, profitable and sustainable dairy farming systems into the future.
Get Involved in Dairy Gene Ireland
Farmers interested in participating in the Dairy Gene Ireland programme can sign up through HerdPlus, contact ICBF directly for further information or follow ICBF communication channels for updates.
Join the programme and play your part in driving genetic progress in the Irish dairy herd.