This year’s most recent active bull list is now available to view online with the list due to be updated again at the end of May.
There are 75 bulls on the list ranging in economic breeding index (EBI) from €247 to €346.
Top of the list is Moneen Rio (JE4289) – he ranks highest in EBI (€346) and has a reliability of 57%. He is also the most fertile bull on the list, with a fertility sub-index of €194.
Active bull list
The EBI details of the 75 bulls on the list are based on the March 2021 genetic evaluations computed by the Irish Cattle Breeders’ Federation (ICBF).
Semen from all of the bulls has been indicated as being available by the various artificial insemination (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 reliability percentage and 77% cow reliability percentage);
- At least 50 calving records either in Ireland or in the country of origin of the bull.
To view the most recent active bull list: Click here
2021 list – analysed
This year there are now 67 Irish bred bulls on the list. This means that nearly 90% of the bulls on our national Dairy bull list were bred here in Ireland.
Pat Donnellan from ICBF explains: ”This wasn’t always the case. In 2001 there were just two bulls on the list bred here in Ireland.
”Holland, France, New Zealand and America have generally been where most of the bulls on the list have come from.
”This trend started to change around 2009 when the first of the Gene Ireland programme, Irish progeny-tested bulls, started to come through.
”This year also heralds a milestone for Gene Ireland with its highest number of bulls being progeny-tested.”
He continued: ”This year’s list is made up of 71 Holstein/Friesian bulls, three Jersey bulls and a Norwegian red bull.
”The 75 bulls have breeding values for EBI and the seven sub-indices, together with trait information on ten key profit traits.
”All of the bulls are genotyped and none of them are carriers of genetic defects.”