(IG) Ireland Genetics, Progressive Genetics & Munster Bovine recently hosted another excellent group of dairy farmers from Wales, England & Scotland together with members of the Genus UK sales team.

The group firstly visited the herd of John & Jimmy Bourke, Rathcunikeen, Two Mile Borris, Thurles, Co. Tipperary where John gave an in-depth run through of their farming system together with a great overview of the breeding journey that the herd has been on, going from crossbreeding a few years ago to now using all black & white high EBI genetics. John gave the group many insights into the breeding strategy for the herd which the group found very 

Group on the farm of John & Jimmy Bourkes

We then visited the nearby herd of Lottie and David Russell, Corbally House, Thurles, County Tipperary. Here the group again got to see another really uniform herd of high EBI dairy cows. The group also got to see how the NCBC breeding programme operates on the ground in terms of bull mother identification and screening. The group got a great tour of the farm by Lottie and were also shown a tremendous bunch of Spring 2024 born high EBI heifer calves – the result of using sexed semen last Spring. 

High EBI Cows in the herd of Lottie and David Russell

 

Group of 2024 born Heifers from sexed semen on the Russell farm.

Group pictured at the farm of Lottie and David Russell

The next morning we travelled to Moorepark where they received a great talk from Professor Donagh Berry. All aspects of the EBI dairy breeding index, genomics and much more was covered. Ben Lahart then gave a very interesting presentation covering the various methane trials that are ongoing at Moorepark together with a tour of some of the outdoor trial paddocks.  

Then we travelled to the herd of Robert and Mary Troy, Newtownshandrum, Charleville, Co.Cork.  Prior to arriving on the farm, Robert treated the group to a tour of the agricultural museum which is home to his extensive collection of old farm machinery and equipment. The museum is located in the old creamery in the village which is also the headquarters of ‘Grasstec’, which many of the group were familiar with.

Robert Troy giving the group a tour of the Agricultural museum at Grasstec in Newtownshandrum

On the Troy farm, Robert and his wife Mary gave a great overview of their farming system. What stood out in particular for the group was the attention given to high EBI sire selection every year resulting in outstanding performance levels for fertility and solids. The herd regularly produces bulls for AI, many of which have gone into the NCBC bull breeding programme. The group walked through the cows where Robert identified close relatives of many (IG) Ireland Genetics sires such as the full sister of (IG) Springhaven Supreme (FR4482).  

High EBI cows in the herd of Robert and Mary Troy

Some of the group viewing cows in the herd of Robert and Mary Troy

Many thanks are due to the host farmers who gave of their time and facilities to accommodate this trip. Many thanks also to Sean Hayes (Progressive Genetics Breeding Advisor) and Tom Baker (Munster Bovine Commercial Manager) for their assistance prior to and during the trip. Many thanks also to Donagh Berry and Ben Lahart Teagasc Moorepark for their presentations to the group. Also, many thanks to Simon Hancock, Nick Thomas, Claire Scane and Michael James (Genus UK) for their work in organising the group and arranging flights over. 
 
Progressive Genetics and Munster Bovine jointly setup NCBC (The National Cattle Breeding Centre) to operate their dairy & beef breeding activities, sourcing bulls, progeny testing and producing semen for their studs. (IG) Ireland Genetics was established to market and distribute these same genetics internationally.