Prize Fund of €30,000 in EBI €100 Competition
The 2007 EBI €100 competition for dairy farmers has attracted a prize fund of over €30,000 with a top prize of €10,000. The competition, launched today, Thursday 26 April, has succeeded in its aim of focusing attention on better breeding of dairy cows to improve farm profits. This year’s competition, with an increased prize fund, aims to consolidate previous success and attract the country’s elite commercial dairy herds to participate in this prestigious competition.
Speaking at the launch of the competition, Matt Ryan, Teagasc dairy programme manager, said: “Clear evidence is emerging of the association between the Economic Breeding Index (EBI) and farm profit. Our farm analysis shows that lifting herd EBI by our target of €5 per year is associated with an increase in profit of up to €1,500 on the average farm. Over a period of five years this increase in herd EBI could be worth in excess of €20,000 to the average herd through better milk production and higher fertility.”
Representing the main sponsors, ACCBank, Paddy Horgan, head of Agri-Business said: “We are pleased to continue our association with this competition and recognise EBI as an important means of lifting dairy farm profitability. This year we have further extended the scope and value of the competition by adding a discussion group category with an additional prize fund of €10,000 for the winning group. We hope that our sponsorship of the competition will continue to raise awareness of the value of the Index to Irish dairy farmers. We encourage as many farmers as possible to enter the competition.”
Andrew Cromie, of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, said: “EBI combines milk production, fertility, calving and beef merit in one economic index. More recently health traits were included in the Index. The EBI of the national herd has jumped once more and now stands at an average of €42 since last year. Our geneticists have shown that a sustained annual increase in herd EBI of greater than €5 is possible. The top herds in the country now have an average EBI of almost double the national average.”
Jack Kennedy, dairy editor with the Irish Farmers Journal, said: “We are delighted to once again be involved in the EBI competition given its role in encouraging dairy farmers to breed for higher profit which is the key determinant of dairy farmers’ survival in the future. Breeding your dairy herd to high EBI bulls will result in a more profitable herd of dairy cows.”
Ten regional finalists will be selected from Munster, Leinster and Connacht/Ulster to compete for the overall prize of a cheque for €10,000. Three regional winners and the winner in the development category will each receive a cheque of €2,500. The winning discussion group will receive a prize fund of €10,000. The closing date for receipt of application forms is Friday, 8 June. Application forms are available from local Teagasc offices, ACCBank Business Units, ICBF and the Irish Farmers Journal. For further information, contact Teagasc dairy specialist, George Ramsbottom, Oak Park, Carlow on 087-2708973.
