Introduction
The EBI details of the top 75 bulls on the dairy active bull list are based on the March 2025 genetic evaluations calculated by ICBF. Semen from all of the Bulls has been indicated as being available by the various AI Companies, hence the term ‘Active’ Bull List. The criteria for making the list is as follows:
- EBI reliability greater than or equal to 35%.
- Calving difficulty reliability greater than or equal to 70% (based on 23% heifer rel% and 77% cow rel%)
- At least 50 Irish calving records.
2025 List – Analysed
This year, there are now 74 Irish bred Bulls on the list. This is the highest number of Irish bred bulls that have ever been listed on the ICBF Dairy Active Bull List. Foreign sires dominated the active bull list in the early years. In 2001, there were just 2 Irish bred Bulls that were on the list. Over time, sires were increasingly sourced domestically. The fact that, today, over 95% of sires tested through the programme are Irish bred, which can be seen in the graph below, is an indication to the success of Dairy Gene Ireland.
The 75 Bulls on the list have an average EBI of €330. The bull’s EBI on the list range from €370 down to €315. 84% of the bulls that are on the list are Genomic Bulls with remainder being Daughter proven either here in Ireland (14.7%) or from abroad (1.3%) See table 2. This year’s list is made up of 72 Holstein/Friesian Bulls and 3 Jersey crossbred bull. All of the bulls are genotyped and none of them are carriers of genetic defects e.g. CVM or BLAD.
The Bulls which are ranked highest for each type of proof on the list are listed below:
Click Here to view the Dairy Active Bull List.