Teagasc launch breeding competition
29 April 2005
A new competition, launched today, Friday 29th April, will focus attention on lifting farm profits through genetic improvement. The competition, called ‘EBI €100’, has attracted a prize fund of over €10,000.
Speaking at the launch of the competition, Matt Ryan, Teagasc Dairy Programme Manager said that the competition will help farmers focus on better breeding as a means of lifting profit. ‘Teagasc is committed to raising the economic breeding index (EBI) of the national dairy herd by €5 per year. Over a period of 5 years this increase in herd EBI could be worth €28,000 to a 50 cow herd through better milk production and higher fertility’.
Continuing he said, ‘This competition should be attractive to everyone who is serious about improving their dairy herds. In addition to focusing on the EBI of the dairy cows, the EBI of the replacement heifers and weanlings will form an important part of the competition. This will give farmers focused on improving their replacement stock a chance. Financial and environmental issues will be evaluated in the EBI €100 competition as well’.
Brian Wickham, Chief Executive, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, said, ‘The EBI combines milk production, fertility and more recently calving and beefing merit in the one index. The EBI of the national herd is €21 and has increased by €1 to €2 per year. Our geneticists have shown that an annual increase in herd EBI of greater than €5 is possible. The top herds are comfortably achieving this – indeed a sizeable number of herds has an EBI of more than double the national average. Breeding your dairy herd to high EBI bulls will lead to a better balanced, more profitable herd of dairy cows’.
Representing ACCBank, the main sponsors of the competition, Paddy Horgan, National Agri-Business Manager said, ‘We are pleased to be associated with this competition and recognise EBI as a means of lifting dairy farm profitability. We hope that our sponsorship of the competition will help to raise awareness of the value of the index to Irish dairy farmers. We would encourage as many farmers as possible to enter the competition’.
Seven regional finalists will be selected for the finals, three from Munster, two from Leinster and two from Connacht/Ulster. The overall winner will receive a a cheque of €5,000 and a plaque, three regional winners will each receive a cheque of €1,500 and a plaque and the runners up will each receive a cheque of €250 and a plaque. The closing date for receipt of application forms is Friday June 24. Application forms for the EBI €100 competition are available from local Teagasc offices, ACCBank branches, ICBF and the Irish Farmers Journal.
Ends
Issued by Larry O’Loughlin
Head Public Relations Department, Teagasc
Tel: 059 9183408; 087 2562434
Email: loloughlin@hq.teagasc.ie
