For those that missed Walters farmer focus piece, we have included again this week (see below).

The comment prompted considerable discussion amongst dairy farmers, especially those sceptical of the merits of the young genomic bulls, when compared against the older daughter proven bulls. Could the young genomic bulls really be that good was the question – or would you not be better to take the “ronseal approach” of picking proven sires that were guaranteed to “do what it said on the tin”?

Testing the theory?

To test this theory, ICBF and Teagasc undertook a piece of work to identify the 7 highest EBI sires across three categories of active dairy AI bulls. These were; (i) young Genomically Selected bulls (GS bulls), (ii) Daughter Proven bulls with a minimum EBI reliability of 70% (DP-70% bulls), and (iii) Daughter Proven bulls with a minimum EBI reliability of 90% (DP-90% bulls).

The reason for picking 7 bulls was that this then reflected one of the key recommendations from Teagasc and ICBF regarding the minimum number of AI bulls that dairy farmers should use in their breeding program. In many ways the exercise was therefore mimicking exactly the options that are available to dairy farmers. For example, Farmer A, such as Walter, preferring to use the young GS bulls, Farmer B, preferring to use daughter proven AI sires or Farmer C, preferring to use only very well proven AI sires. The top 7 bulls in each category were selected from the full list of 715 dairy AI sires that are currently active and available from AI companies. An overview of the bulls within each category and their EBI values are in given in Table 1.

GS bulls are well ahead in EBI terms.

The outcomes from table 1 clearly indicate that in EBI terms the young GS bulls are well ahead of both Daughter Proven teams, with a difference of €43 between the GS bulls and the DP-70% bulls and a difference of €88 between the GS bulls and the DP-90% bulls. These results support Walter’s assertion and are consistent with a key message from Teagasc and ICBF this Spring; that dairy farmers should continue to have confidence in using teams of high EBI GS bulls.

When is a bull daughter proven?

Another interesting outcome from the analysis presented in table 1 is to ask the question as to when is a bull daughter proven? For example, the top 3 bulls in the DP-70% category (Pamela, Pat 1336 and Andy) currently have no milk recording daughters in their proof (they are only calving in now) and are therefore still getting most of their EBI reliability from their genomic data, plus some calving and beef/cow maintenance information. In actual fact it is only when you get to bulls in the DP-90% category that we are starting to identify bulls that are fully proven for milk and fertility traits, with on average over 1,000 milk recorded daughters in the EBI evaluations for each of these sires. However, these bulls are then 8 years old, which is 6 years older than the young GS bulls (at 2 years of age).

Genetic trends from Teagasc and ICBF have indicated that the current rate of genetic gain in the National herd is some €12-€15, which is then consistent with the difference in EBI value (€88) between these two groups of animals.

Do the exercise yourself?

We would encourage you to do this exercise your-self at home, or with other farmers in your discussion group, as it will help to confirm the benefits of the GS bulls relative to either category of DP bulls. All of the material is available for download from the ICBF website (www.icbf.com). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to come back to us.

Table 1: Summary of bull teams selected for each category of AI sires, together with EBI details.

Team of 7 BullsAgeEBIRelMilkFertilityCD RecsMR Dtrs
Team 1. High EBI GS bulls2€27258%€81€1431,0640
Example bulls; Candy (FR2385), Cardiff (FR2339) & Sebastian (FR2314)
Team 2. High EBI DP-70% bulls5€22974%€82€1028,70584
Example bulls; Pamela (SEW), Pat 1336 (HZB) & Andy (AYD)
Team 3. High EBI DP-90% bulls8€18494%€57€576,9001,163
Example bulls; Solaris (PSQ), Phillip (ZPB) & Harold (CHQ).

FARMER FOCUS: Walter Power, Co Tipperary

You just can’t go past the young Genomic bulls

Cows & heifers

Milking 310 cows with additional 75 replacement heifers for breeding this Spring. Cows are currently yielding 25 litres, with 2 kg MS/day.

Latest ICBF stats re: teams of bulls

126 heifers calves born in 2016, 87% of which were AI bred, from 14 different AI bulls and with a max of 15% to one bull.

GS or DP bulls and why?

Even though the young GS (Genomically Selected) bulls have dropped a bit, they are still just too far ahead of the Daughter Proven bulls (DP). You can’t go past them. Key is to use them as a team. This year I will use a team of 13 bulls. Last year I used 14. Maximum use of any one bull will be 40 straws this year, which will be 10% of my total straw usage.

Bulls being used in spring 2017

13 AI bulls selected. Main bulls are Pamela, Candy, Sebastian, Rudoplh and Leister. Average weighted EBI of bull team from ICBF Sire Advice is €251.

Breeding programme plan

I’ll be starting AI on 1 May, and plan to use dairy AI for five weeks, then beef AI for another four weeks, then sweeper bulls. I’m using a local AI technician, based on AI’ing once a day. I find it works really well. For the past six years I’ve been running at around 5% empty at the end of the breeding season, which is a great endorsement of the impact that EBI has had on Irish dairy farms.