1. Cattle Breeding in Ireland.
Dr Andrew Cromie, Technical Director ICBF.

2. Irish Cattle Breeding.
Co-ordinated by Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).
A co-operative of 30 cattle breeding organisations (AI, Herdbooks & Milk Recording organisations) & 2 Farm Organisations.
Established the ICBF central database in 2002.
Now the cornerstone of the Irish cattle industry.
Focused on “profit from science”.
High level of farmer trust - independent genetic evaluations are key.
World-leading (research => implementation).
2nd in world to launch dairy genomics, after US.
Beef Genomics => largest livestock genomics project globally.

3. MEMBERS, BOARD & SHARES - ICBF
AI - 3
HB - 3
MR - 3
FO - 6
DAFF - 1
Board
AI -18%
MR - 18%
HB - 18%
FO - 46%
Shares
ICBF set up in 1998
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ICBF’s members and owners are four groups of organisations:
the artificial insemination co-operatives,
the organisations providing milk recording services,
the Herd Books, and the
the Farm Organisations representing farmer interests.
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The Board of 16 includes one from DAFF, 3 from each of the AI, MR and HB groups and 6 from Farmer Organisations.
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The shares are held in three groups of 18%, (AI, MR and HB) and 46% by the Farm Organisations.
The stakeholders in cattle breeding control the decisions made by ICBF.
Stakeholders in cattle breeding control decision making.

4. Genetic Evaluation System Insems & Genetic Evaluations
AI Companies
Insems & Genetic Evaluations
Milk Recording
Dairy & Beef Farmers
Milk Production &
Management Rpts
Herd Books
Ped. Certs & Linears
DAFF - AIM
Calf reg & movement

5. Genetic Evaluation System Insems & Genetic Evaluations
AI Companies
Less paper, more profit!
Insems & Genetic Evaluations
Milk Recording
ICBF Database
Milk Production &
Management Rpts
Herd Books
Dairy & Beef Farmers
Ped. Certs & Linears
Animal Events
DAFF - AIM
Calf Reg & Movements
Calf reg & movement

6. ICBF Database 30m animals with 100m+ records.
1m AI recs/yr
Genetic Evaluation System
AI Companies
Teagasc Research
30m animals with 100m+ records.
Knowledge
Insems & Genetic Evaluations
700k MR recs/yr
Data
Schemes, e.g.,
BVD, BGDP, Origin Green
Milk Recording
ICBF Database
Milk Production &
Management Rpts
Data for services
2.3 m birth recs/yr
Herd Books
Ped. Certs & Linears
100k farmers are now serviced from the database.
Dairy & Beef Farmers
Animal Events
DAFF - AIM
Calf reg & movements
2.3m BVD recs/yr
1.6 m carcass recs/yr
Carcass data
Health & disease data
Slaughter Factories
Vets & vet labs.
Weight & price
Genotypes
Marts & auctioneers
Bulk Tank
Reports
Genotypes & gen labs.
7.0 m movement records/yr
Milk Co-ops
Teagasc & ACA Advisors
500k genotype recs/yr

7. Typical Irish dairy farm; 80 cows, calving from mid-Feb (in line with grass growth in Spring) and ending lactation by mid-December.

8. Where we started; Irish dairy herd 2000

9. Evolution of the EBI (2000–2016)
The ideal Irish dairy cow; High milk solids (500 kg MS/cow/year) & excellent fertility (CI = 365 days).

10. Genetics Works; Example EBI
2016. Next Gen Herd
2009. Establish Genomics; Rate of gain doubled
2005. Establish G€N€ IR€
2002. Establish ICBF & EBI
EBI has delivered ~€587 additional profit to industry since With current rate of gain expect to double (€1.15bn) by 2020.

11. Impact; Teagasc Next Generation Herd.
The ideal Irish dairy cow; High milk solids (500 kg MS/cow/year) & excellent fertility (CI = 365 days). The Top 1% cows in Next Gen Herd will achieve this.

12. Impact; ICBF Active Bull List (Top 75 available AI bulls ranked on EBI).
10 years ago, all of the highest EBI bulls in Ireland were imported, now they are all Irish bred.

13. Genetic Trends within Irish Suckler Beef Industry.
Within our Suckler Beef Industry, there has been a past heavy focus on terminal traits. No gain in key maternal traits.

14. €uro-Star Replacement Index.
Trait
Goal
Relative wt
Calving
Less
16%
Feed Intake
18%
Carcass wt (for age)
More
21%
Maternal milk
Female fertility
23%
Docility 4%
The ideal Irish beef cow; A weaned calf every year of good weight & quality.

15. All Suckler Cows

16. The Irish Beef Genomics Scheme.
Focused on breeding more profitable, sustainable and carbon efficient cows.
Funded from EU Rural Development Program.
€300m total funding 6 years ( )
Farmers paid ~€90/cow/year to complete key actions re: the scheme.
~500k animals genotyped to-date. ~2.5m animals in total will be genotyped during period of scheme. Cost of genomic service is €22/animal.
Building Ireland toward DNA based calf registration (& increased genetic gain).

17. Summary. Genetics works.
Agriculture is undergoing a DNA technology revolution.
Ireland is at the front edge of that revolution.
Strong partnership between ICBF, DAFM, Teagasc, cattle industry & farmers is allowing this happen.
Opportunities to grow the use of the Genomics (and related services) in the future, nationally and internationally