The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) has launched a major new suckler beef research project involving 1000 breeding cattle on 12 farms across Northern Ireland.

The project will evaluate the ability of novel breeding methods to improve the output from suckler herds. Funding is being provided by the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD) through a Research Challenge Fund grant, and AgriSearch in association with AI Services, Genus ABS and Zoetis.

This project follows on from a previous pilot study funded by AgriSearch, which evaluated the role of oestrus synchronisation and the use of artificial insemination (AI) in meeting breeding targets for suckler herds.

The project will seek to devise and embed alternative management protocols for oestrus synchronisation and artificial insemination with high genetic merit sires in order to significantly improve the output from suckler herds.

The new study will involve close co-operation between AFBI researchers, co-researcher farmers and their veterinary surgeons and the industry partners.  In addition to AFBI’s suckler herd, research will be undertaken on 12 commercial beef farms across Northern Ireland involving approximately 1000 cows/heifers.