Salers hits Replacement bullseye with €273 value
SALERS, Limousin, Aubrac and Angus breeds hold the top four places with Replacement Euro Values of over €170, on the latest ICF Gene Ireland panel of high replacement index beef bulls for Winter 2018 which has just been published.
In the number one placing is the Salers bull, Knottown Roy at €273 bred by Richard Fortune, Castlebridge, Co Wexford. He is followed by the Limousin, Corcamore Lorcan bred by Brendan Curtin, Clarina, Co. Limerick at €201.
The Johnstown Aubrac Herd run by Francis and Bernie Donohoe and their daughter Jennifer, near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath has commanded the third position with Roy with a value of €192.
The herd established in 2004 comprises almost 70 pedigree breeding females the original genes of which were imported following a visit to France in search of the particular type of cow that would be “easy fed, easy calved, short gestation, and high longevity”.
Dropping into the fourth place with euro value of €172 is Dunard Navigator, an Angus bull bred by Paul Mathews, Kilsheelan, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
ICBF emphasise that building on the success of previous programmes, these bulls have been selected on their potential to deliver in two key areas. Firstly, to produce heifers which are fertile and will have an adequate level of milk, and secondly, to produce a heifer that will deliver a calf with good beef attributes for traits such as good growth rate and conformation. Cross Liam: Replacement value of €165
In 2012 the focus moved to selecting bulls with more maternal traits, in response to a decline in milk and fertility in the Irish suckler herd. This latest panel of 16 bulls is made up of 10 beef breeds and the average Replacement Index of the panel is an impressive €147. Johnstown Loyd: €192 Replacement value
“These bulls offer farmers the opportunity to avail of cutting edge genetics at the very attractive price of €5 per straw,” according to ICBF with the straws delivered direct to a farmer’s DIY tank or to the AI technician of his choosing. Spiddal Pat: Replacement value of €165