The Irish Farmers Journal has learned that three herds have been removed from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation’s (ICBF) whole herd performance recording programme.

Two of the herds are from the Irish Limousin Cattle Society, while the other herd breed has yet to be confirmed.

Pat Donnellan of ICBF said that there are 330 herds in the programme and that the three that have been removed represent just 1% of breeders.

“Questions were raised over the birth date that was recorded for calves [in the programme].

‘‘For the reputation of the programme, they were removed. Breeders will get an opportunity to rejoin the programme.”

Given that the programme issues a quality data stamp for sales catalogues, Paul Sykes of the Irish Limousin Cattle Society said that these herds that were removed can’t go to society sales. He said that they will continue to monitor the situation.