The latest Dairy Trend Report is now online for all Dairy HerdPlus members. This report gives farmers a clear view of how herd performance has evolved in recent years, and how those changes compare at a national level. It is designed to help you track progress, identify strengths, and spot opportunities for further improvement.
By combining genetic information with key performance indicators, the Dairy Trend Report shows how breeding decisions are translating into real on‑farm results. Importantly, it allows you to benchmark your herd’s genetic trends against both the national average and the top-performing herds. This benchmarking highlights what is achievable and helps you evaluate whether adjustments to breeding decisions could deliver even greater progress.
By bringing together genetic data and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the Dairy Trend Report allows farmers to assess how breeding decisions are translating on- farm. Crucially, the report allows farmers to compare their herd’s genetic trend with the national average and the top-performing herds. This benchmarking highlights what is achievable and helps identify whether changes to breeding decisions could deliver further progress.
What does the Dairy Trend Report Show?
The Dairy Trend Report shows how your herd has changed over time, helping you see whether performance is improving, holding steady, or declining in key areas.
It includes trends for:
- Economic Breeding Index (EBI)
- Milk Sub-Index
- Fertility Sub-Index
- Calving Interval
- Heifers Calved 22- 26 Months
- Average Lactations ( Cows in the herd)
- Fat & Protein (kg/Ms) per cow
- Somatic Cell Count (SCC)
These indicators reflect the key drivers of profitability and sustainability in Irish dairy systems. By viewing trends over multiple years, farmers can better understand the long term impact of genetic selection. The main focus of the Dairy Trend Report is genetic progress in EBI and its sub-indexes. Improvements in EBI indicate that herds are becoming more profitable, efficient, and environmentally sustainable over time.
To aid with comparison between years, the genetic indexes are based on the number of dairy cows in your herd on the 30th June each year. The genetic indexes for all years are calculated from the November 2025 evaluation. The Calving and Co-op KPI’s are sourced directly from the HerdPlus Calving and Co-op performance reports.
Fertility remains one of the most important drivers of efficiency in grass-based dairy systems. The Dairy Trend Report includes trends for key fertility and calving metrics, allowing farmers to see how performance has developed over time. The report also tracks trends in the herd’s average lactation and milk solids performance.
How to Access Your Dairy Trend Report
The Dairy Trend Report is available to all HerdPlus Dairy farmers and can be accessed online:
- Log in to your HerdPlus account at www.icbf.com
- Open the “Reports” menu
- Select “General”
- Choose “5 Year Dairy Trend Report”
- Click “Download Report”
The Dairy Trend Report is most valuable when used as a planning and discussion tool. Reviewing your results with your advisor can help you identify opportunities to improve both breeding and herd management. By examining trends over several years, farmers can make informed decisions that support long-term profitability, efficiency, and sustainability.
If you have any questions or comments or feedback, please contact HerdPlus on 023-8820452 or email [email protected].