FBD EuroStar €200 best pedigree herd winners 2019

At the annual ICBF & Sheep Ireland Genetics Conference in Killenard on the 17th of January the winners and finalists of the FBD Eurostar €200 Pedigree Herd Competition 2019 were announced.

For this competition, herds were shortlisted based on analysis of several key performance indicators including fertility, calving and data recording. Following on from this analysis, herds were involved in a telephone interview, where they discussed their own farming practices, breeding strategies and grassland management. Herds were categorised based on the 5 main breeds, LM, SI, CH, AA, HE and an ‘All Other Breeds’ category.

L-R: Brian Campion, Thomas Bowers, Enda Moloney and Sean Coughlan, CEO of ICBF.
L-R: Brian Campion, Thomas Bowers, Enda Moloney and Sean Coughlan, CEO of ICBF.
L-R: Paul McLaughlin, Sean Brady, John Finnegan and Sean Coughlan.
L-R: Paul McLaughlin, Sean Brady, John Finnegan and Sean Coughlan.
L-R: Donal O’Connor, Sebana Moynagh, Patrick O’Mahony and Sean Coughlan.
L-R: Donal O’Connor, Sebana Moynagh, Patrick O’Mahony and Sean Coughlan.
L-R: Timmie Taylor, Louis Byrne, Robert Shannon and Sean Coughlan.
L-R: Timmie Taylor, Louis Byrne, Robert Shannon and Sean Coughlan.
L-R: John White, Ivor Deverell, David Tait and Sean Coughlan.
L-R: John White, Ivor Deverell, David Tait and Sean Coughlan.
L-R: Brendan Murray, James Whelan, Séan Galvin and Sean Coughlin.
L-R: Brendan Murray, James Whelan, Séan Galvin and Sean Coughlin.

Limousin

Congratulations to Brian Campion who won the FBD €urostar €200 Pedigree Limousin Herd Competition. Brian operates a 28 pedigree Limousin cow herd near Rathdowney, Co. Laois under the Knockiel prefix. The herd has an average Repl Index of €104 and achieved excellent fertility with a calf/cow/year rate of 0.95 in 2019. Brian breeds bulls for both commercial and dairy herds and has many repeat customers. Brian also relies heavily on weighing heifers in order to select replacements.

We would also like to congratulate Enda Moloney of the Fermoyle herd and Thomas Bowers Kiltoom Limousin’s on being shortlisted for this award.

Simmental

Congratulations to John Finnegan of Leeherd Simmentals who won the FBD €urostar €200 Pedigree Simmental Herd Competition. John and his sons run a 21 pedigree Simmental cow herd near Coachford, Co. Cork. John focuses on breeding easy calving bulls, while also taking carcass conformation into account. The herd has an average Repl index of €111 and strives for exceptional fertility. John also completes weighing on-farm and finds the highest Repl index cows are weaning the heaviest calves.

We would also like to congratulate Sean Brady, Kilkitt herd and Paul McLaughlin, Glashedy herd on being shortlisted for this award.

Charolais

Congratulations to Sebana Moynagh of the Breffini herd who won the FBD €urostar €200 Pedigree Charolais Herd Competition. Sebana keeps a 55 pedigree Charolais cow herd near Mountnugent, Co. Cavan. Sebana focuses on breeding animals for high fertility and milk and does this through the use of AI. Due to the AI sires selected the Breffini herd has increased its average Repl index hugely in the last 3 years. Easy calving is also very important to Sebana and she concentrates on this when making breeding decisions.

We would also like to congratulate Patrick O’Mahony, Gortroe Herd and Donal O’Connor of the Coom Charolais Herd on being shortlisted for this award.

Aberdeen Angus

Congratulations to Louis Bryne who won the FBD €urostar €200 Pedigree Angus Herd Competition. Louis runs a 13 pedigree Angus cow herd near Laragh, Co. Wicklow under the Tomriland prefix. Louis mainly supplies bulls for the dairy market, therefore easy calving is crucial for him when making breeding choices. The herd boosts an impressive average Repl index of €98, while achieving an exceptional 1.08 calf/cow/year in 2019. Louis is also a participant in the DNA Calf Registration Pilot, and states this is the way forward as animals need to be genotyped for accuracy.

We would also like to congratulate Robert Shannon of the Gabriel herd and Timmie Taylor of the Monemore herd on being shortlisted for this award.

Hereford

Congratulations to David Tait who won the FBD €urostar €200 Pedigree Hereford Herd Competition. David operates an 18 pedigree Hereford cow herd near Whitegate, Co. Cork under the Glebe herd prefix. The herd has an average Repl index of €93 in 2019. David’s target market is mainly the dairy herd, therefore easy calving and docility are important traits to him. David is also a participant of the BDGP scheme and states the more people who are involved the better, as more information on animals becomes available.

We would also like to congratulate John White of the Carrigdown herd and The Deverall Family, Geashill herd on being shortlisted for this award.

All Other Breeds

Congratulations to Brendan Murray of Belmount Salers who won the FBD €urostar €200 Pedigree All Other Breeds Herd Competition. Brendan keeps 18 pedigree Salers cows near Crookstown, Co. Cork. The herd has an average Repl index of €136 and using 100% AI, the herd achieved a remarkable calving interval of 365 days in 2019. Brendan’s focus is on the Repl index and concentrates on easy calving to breed animals suitable for dairy and suckler enterprises.

We would also like to congratulate James Whelan of Ballylaffin Shorthorns and The Galvin Family of the Terelton Blonde D’aquitaine herd on being shortlisted for this award.

ICBF wishes all the shortlisted and winning herds the very best in the future.

ICBF would also like to acknowledge the continued support of FBD, as without their sponsorship these awards could not take place.