The Gene Ireland Programme is run by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) in conjunction with several of the national artificial insemination (AI) companies. The programme was created to provide dairy farmers with the next generation of genetics through the progeny testing of young bulls.

These young bulls – which are supplied by a number of AI companies – are used on good data recording herds, so that ICBF can collect information on these animals and produce high-quality genetic evaluations on these bulls.

This spring, ICBF’s target is to test 100 young genomic bulls and the cost is €12 a straw, up from €8.50 a straw in 2020.

Straws are available in packs of 35 (5 bulls x 7 straws), 49 (7 bulls x 7 straws), 70 (7 bulls x 10 straws) and 100 (10 bulls x 10 straws), with packs then made available up to a maximum of 35% of your dairy straw requirement.

Requirements for herds to participate in the programme involve milk recording, recording inseminations, sire and calving ease details, using all allocated straws in the current season and providing health information as it becomes available on daughters of these bulls.

Image source: ICBF

Price change

AgriLand spoke with Kevin Downing from ICBF regarding the outlook for the Gene Ireland Programme for 2021.

Kevin said: ”Last year the programme distributed packs to 600 herds, with the aim being to get to 1,000 herds in the coming years.

To maintain the gains being made we need to test more bulls. Over the last number of years we have tested between 50 and 70 bulls, but the AI companies have now increased that to 120 bulls.

”One of the main factors causing a rise in the cost of straws is due to the increase in the number of bulls being tested and included in the programme for evaluation, by the AI companies.”

Kevin noted that ”farmers are still receiving straws from highly-rated genomic sires at a discounted rate”.

”The bulls available through this year’s dairy programme are the best genetics available, with an average economic breeding index (EBI) of €310.

”Building a pack of these bulls into your breeding programme will not only help to accelerate your herd’s genetic gain but will also ensure that more EBI high bulls are progeny tested for initial calving and male fertility data, with the very best of these then returned for widespread AI next season.”