The latest figures from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation has identified the top 2,000 Economic Breeding Index cows in the country.
Springhaven Biddy 162 EX92, owned by Robert Troy Jnr. from Newtownshandrum, Co. Cork, is the top EBI cow in the country with an EBI of €342, according to ICBF figures.
With an average calving interval of 376 days, this Holstein cow is currently in her eleventh lactation and was sired by Bagworth Zander Keet (BWZ).
As well as having an EBI of €342 she also has a lifetime production of 56,908kg of milk, with 4.22% Fat and 3.48% Protein.
Sired by Ballyhooly Blake Dr Ro (YHY), this cow is now on her sixth lactation, according to the ICBF.
In third place is a first lactation Holstein/Friesian cow sired by Doonmanagh dsu Bowser (DBW), named Ballykinash dbw Niamh 1286 G79, with an EBI of €321 owned by Jim Delahunt, Carrig, Birr, Co. Tipperary.
Top Herd Owners
This listing includes 66 entries from Kieran Hearne, Carrick-On-Suir, Co. Waterford, who’s herd also recently topped the Top 200 EBI herds listing.
Moorepark’s ‘Next Generation Herd’, a Teagasc herd established in 2012 to evaluate EBI genomic selection, had the second highest number of representatives on the list with a total of 47 entries.
Other herds that feature strongly include; David Fitzgerald, Mallow, Co. Cork with 41 cows, David Lonergan, Ballyduff, Co. Waterford with 40 cows and Kevin Downing, Whitechurch, Co. Cork with 38 cows.
Most prominent herds in the Top 2,000 EBI cow list Source: ICBF
An Overview of the top 2,000 EBI cows
The sires with the most amount of daughters on the list include Highmount Kenny (HMY) with 83 daughters, Hazael Eminence Dano-ET (HZO) with 74 daughters and Dungourney Cremin (DGC) with 70 daughters.
Out of the top 2,000, 145 cows have an EBI greater than or equal €250, figures show.
This is an increase from 786 genotyped animals, or a jump of close to 95%, making the list one year ago, according to the ICBF.
Of the 2,000 cows on the list there are 92 animals that were classified as having a conformation of VG (Very Good) or EX (Excellent).
Meanwhile, the average EBI of the list is €215, with €57 coming from the Milk Sub-Index and €117 from the Fertility Sub-Index.
The list contains eight different breeds including Friesian, Holstein, Jersey, Meuse-Rhine-Issel, Norwegian Red, Rotbunte, Danish Red and Swedish Red, ICBF data shows.