Support for Teagasc Dairy Breeding Research

4 February, 2004

The Irish Holstein-Friesian Association (IHFA) has committed financial support for the major Teagasc research project on dairy breeding at Moorepark Research Centre.

The IHFA sponsorship, which will run for the next three years, will be used to select the right type of cow for the Irish grass-based milk production system.

Speaking at the announcement of the sponsorship, Pat Dillon of Teagasc Moorepark said reduced reproductive efficiency in Irish dairy cows is costing dairy farmers in the region of 1.7c/litre (6p/gal).

“Teagasc analysis shows that calving rate to first service has declined from 55% in 1990 to 44% in 2001. Over the same period, average lactation number has fallen from 4.3 to 3.9. Similar deterioration in Holstein-Friesian fertility has been documented in other international reports,” said Pat Dillon.

He said recent Moorepark results show that improved genetics can lift profit by 2.5c/litre (9p/gal). Teagasc has worked with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) in developing the Economic Breeding Index (EBI) and the challenge now for the Irish AI industry is to provide dairy farmers with the necessary enhanced genetics.

The new IHFA sponsored research initiative, which is being led by Dr Frank Buckley and Dr Donagh Berry at Moorepark, will focus on linear type traits that best identify sires of superior genetic merit for health and longevity in dairy herds. The researchers will continue to work closely with scientists in other countries in the development of the best analytical techniques.