Wexford Carlow border farm has key role in genetics

A RESEARCH farm on the Wexford Carlow border is playing a key role into how improved genetics in the dairy herd can improve yields for farmers.

The research is being conducted at a 280acre ABP Research and Demonstration Farm in Clonegal which is set up to resemble a typical beef farm and is owned by James and Michael Sheppard.

The farm was selected due to its typical Irish farm characteristics and the animal husbandry skills of the owners.

Initial results from the Gene Ireland Dairy Beef Programme, a major multi-year collaborative research study involving ABP Food Group, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) and Teagasc indicates that improved genetics in the dairy herd can improve carcass weight and feed intake for the beef farmer without compromising calving difficulty or gestation length for the dairy farmer.

The first animals have been slaughtered with initial analysis suggesting a difference of between €150 and €200 per slaughtered animal between individual AI sires.

Dr Andrew Cromie, Technical Director, ICBF, said the programme is delivering real benefits for the beef and dairy industries, by helping ICBF accurately identify the beef sires that have proven traits for use on the dairy herd in the future.

Chief Operations Officer at ABP Finbarr McDonnell, said the findings are as a result of a culmination of three years’ collaborative work between ABP, ICBF and Teagasc.

‘ These are the first set of results from this multi-year initiative and they already represent significant success. Having a research and demonstration farm has allowed us to consistently monitor and record valuable data on all aspects of animal development right through from calf to slaughter.’ These findings are now available to farmers through ICBF and Teagasc so that they can make an informed decision when it comes to choosing sires for the dairy herd.