The Gene Ireland Progeny test centre at Tully, Co. Kildare recently slaughtered 57 bulls at Slaney Foods International, Bunclody, Co. Wexford. The progeny were sired by 22 different sires across 8 different breeds.
The group consisted of 57 June, July and August 2017 born bulls. The average carcass weight for the group was 352 kilos. They average daily gain for the group during their 84-day performance test period was 2.20 kilos per head per day. Average growth rate within the group ranged from .86 kilos to 2.84 kilos per head per day. The average kill-out for the group was 57%, with kill-out ranging from 51% to 61%. Overall the animals graded extremely well with 1 of the bulls grading E, 47 of the bulls being of U grade conformation and 9 grading in the R grade class. 100% of the 57 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 14.1 kilos, with bulls consuming from 12.2 to 15.5 kilos per head per day on a DMI basis. The bulls were fed hay and ad lib concentrates over their 84-day finishing period. Overall the bulls performed exceptionally well for their age and were gaining 1.25 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 under the ‘Gene Ireland’ section of the ICBF website. You can access the ‘Gene Ireland’ section by clicking on the “services” tab which is located at the top of the homepage.
Key Points
| Age of bulls | 13 – 15 months old |
| Number of Bulls | 57 |
| Number of Breeds | 8 |
| Number of Sires | 22 |
| Average DMI | 14.1 |
| Highest ADG | 2.84 |
| Avg. Carcase weight | 352 |
| No. of bulls hitting carcass fat spec | 100% |
| Tag Number | 372215078110796 |
| Breed | CH |
| Sire | PDR (DERESKIT IMPROVER) |
| Age | 15 months |
| Dry Matter Intake | 13.06 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.45 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 5.33 |
| Initial Liveweight | 309 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 554 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 322 kgs |
| Kill out | 58% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U-3- |
| Tag Number | 372217770120574 |
| Breed | SH |
| Sire | EMS (DOON ERAMUS) |
| Age | 15 months |
| Dry Matter Intake | 14.85 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.1 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 7.07 |
| Initial Liveweight | 430 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 640 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 380 kgs |
| Kill out | 59% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U+3+ |
| Tag Number | 372222689640229 |
| Breed | LM |
| Sire | LM2395 (CAVELANDS JOLLY) |
| Age | 15 months |
| Dry Matter Intake | 13.39 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.26 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 5.92 |
| Initial Liveweight | 440 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 666 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 411 kgs |
| Kill out | 61.8% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | E-2+ |
| Tag Number | IE221194781215 |
| Breed | CH |
| Sire | CH2154 (POLAR JOE 2) |
| Age | 13 months |
| Dry Matter Intake | 14.98 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.66 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 5.63 |
| Initial Liveweight | 410 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 676 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 391 kgs |
| Kill out | 57.8% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U+3+ |
| Tag Number | 372225516340928 |
| Breed | SI |
| Sire | SI2362 (DERMOTSTOWN GIGANTOSAURUS) |
| Age | 13 months |
| Dry Matter Intake | 14.49 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.26 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 6.41 |
| Initial Liveweight | 426 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 652 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 365 kgs |
| Kill out | 56% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U=3= |
| Tag Number | 372218134821309 |
| Breed | LM |
| Sire | KZH (KILSKEAGH HILL 16) |
| Age | 15 months |
| Dry Matter Intake | 12.37 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.01 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 6.15 |
| Initial Liveweight | 373 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 574 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 355 kgs |
| Kill out | 61.8% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U+3- |
| Tag Number | 372225516320926 |
| Breed | SI |
| Sire | SI2469 (LISNACRANN FIFTY CENT) |
| Age | 13 months |
| Dry Matter Intake | 15.08 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.52 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 5.98 |
| Initial Liveweight | 454 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 706 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 404 kgs |
| Kill out | 57% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U+ 2+ |
| Tag Number | 372222128841547 |
| Breed | SA |
| Sire | SA2366 (CARRENTUBBER PINOCCHIO) |
| Age | 13 months |
| Dry Matter Intake | 12.93 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 1.95 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 6.63 |
| Initial Liveweight | 351 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 546 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 327 kgs |
| Kill out | 60% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U=3- |
| Tag Number | IE311026430996 |
| Breed | SI |
| Sire | SI2469 (LISNACRANN FIFTY CENT) |
| Age | 15 months |
| Dry Matter Intake | 15.04 kgs/day |
| Average Daily Gain | 2.16 kgs/day |
| Feed Efficiency | 6.96 |
| Initial Liveweight | 420 kgs |
| Final Liveweight | 636 kgs |
| Carcass weight | 371 kgs |
| Kill out | 58% |
| Carcass confirmation and fat | U-3= |