Dovea Genetics new Bull Stud in Dovea, Thurles, Co. Tipperary was opened by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, Tom Hayes this week.

Commenting at the opening ceremony the Minister said ‘This is a significant investment by the eight different Co-Operative shareholders in Dovea for the benefit of farmers in this area and for the country as a whole.’

He commended the Chairman and board members of Dovea and the individual Co-Op shareholders for their foresight and strategic vision in supporting the extension to the stud.
The Minister said ‘This new stud will complement the existing facilities already in place to provide the additional infrastructure needed to scale up our National breeding programme. With room for 100 beef and dairy bulls spread across the new and existing facilities, Dovea now has the capacity to supply a world class AI product to Irish dairy and beef farmers.’

The Minister said ‘Ultimately genetic improvement facilitated through A.I. Centres like Dovea will deliver increased profitability to the farmer and provide quality raw material to the processing industry which is critical to achieving the growth targets set out in Food Harvest 2020.’ He complimented the cattle breeding industry on the comprehensive co-ordinated national breeding programme that is in place in Ireland through ICBF, in which all sections of the cattle breeding industry participate.

He continued ‘The broader industry here, including Dovea, has taken steps to address commercial realities through the establishment and ongoing operation of the ICBF. I am delighted with the success of ICBF, which has delivered so much to the dairy sector in particular through the EBI which as a profit index has helped to improve the profitability of family farms across the country and I welcome ICBF’s efforts to make similar progress in the beef sector.’

The Minister concluded by wishing everyone associated with the project every success.