In the third instalment of the Whole Herd Performance Recording (WHPR) programme series, we get the final link in the chain, the commercial farmer. While many of these farmers were uninformed about the programme, feedback was positive once the benefits were explained.

The first response from the pedigree breeders showed hesitation, with many highlighting the added costs to their, in many cases, already high-input systems. Issues about running heavy in-calf cows through the crush for weighing and emphasis on measuring the wrong traits were also brought up.

Last week, we featured responses from five of the breed societies asking detailed questions of their views on the programme. These views also expressed concern with the programme, with the exception of the Limousin society which has embraced it, with plans to make it compulsory for all sale exhibitors.

This week, we got the commercial breeders’ point of view. This programme was launched to increase the accuracy of data going into genetic evaluations from the pedigree breeder, so as commercial farmers won’t be blind-sided by inaccurate data when purchasing future stock bulls.

Many of the farmers were unaware of the new programme. However, when asked if they would look for a programme participant when purchasing their next bull, the majority said they would.

We contacted a small proportion of commercial farmers and explained the programme to those who didn’t know about it. However, if the majority of commercial breeders don’t have similar knowledge, will it make any difference when they go to purchase their next bull?

>> Continued on P50

Commercial breeders’ WHPR stance

Matthew Halpin and Peter Thomas Keaveney spoke with commercial farmers about the new Whole Herd Performace Recording (WHPR) programme to get their views

Are you aware of the recently introduced WHPR programme for pedigree farmers?

Angus Woods (AW): Yes, I was on the steering committee.

Cathal Crean (CC): No.

David Mitchell (DM): I’ve heard a bit about it.

Denis Large (DL): Yes.

James Madigan (JM): No.

James Strain (JS): I haven’t.

Joe Murray (JoeM): Yes, I heard about it for premier sales (Limousin society).

Mark Maxwell (MM): Yes. I saw it in the Irish Farmers Journal, farming media and on ICBF Herdplus.

Michael Smith (MS): No.

Shane Brady (SB): No.

Do you agree with the programme being introduced?

AW: Yes, I’m very much in favour of it. Very important that it goes ahead and I think it’s a step in the right direction.

CC: Wholeheartedly. If buying a stock bull, we are getting false information if the calf is registered six weeks early, for example.

DM: Yes, I’d be fully behind it. You just have to go to shows where you would see stock head and shoulders above the rest. I’m a member of the Hereford society and we should be behind it. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear from it.

DL: Yes.

JM: I would, definitely.

JS: Definitely. At the minute, the information is only as good as whoever inputted it. It would be another string to the bow.

JoeM: Yes, I do. It mightn’t be an easy pill to swallow for pedigree breeders, but I think there are areas that certainly need to be tightened up on. However, there are genuine breeders out there who will feel hard done by.

MM: Yes, absolutely. If you’re buying a bull, you want him to be the correct age. If it’s recorded that he’s gaining 1.7 or 1.8kg per day, you want this to be correct and not that he’s actually gaining 1.4kg. At least then you’re getting what you pay for.

MS: Yes, I fully agree. If a pedigree breeder has nothing to hide, then you don’t care who calls to you. I’ve seen bulls 700kg at 13 months. Bigger lad – watch out. Smaller lad – more honest and genuine.

SB: Yes, I do.

Do you use stock bulls or AI?

AW: Stock bull.

CC: Three stockbulls; some AI last year.

DM: Stockbull for terminal, AI for replacements.

DL: Stockbulls.

JM: Two stockbulls; AI used also.

JS: Both. Mostly stock bull, bit of AI.

JoeM: Both.

MM: Both.

MS: Bulls and AI.

SB: Stock bull.

Have you had any issues with using stock bulls in the past?

AW: [No comment given].

CC: No, I would have very little problems. I match bulls to the cows.

DM: No, all bulls I bought were off trusted breeders. I know several men who had bought bulls at sales that didn’t live up to the paper.

DL: No.

JM: No.

JS: Not too bad. I have had calving difficulty problems with a bull that was 5% easy calving, but he wasn’t as easy as I had hoped.

JoeM: No, because I have bought my bulls off genuine breeders that I know. The last bull I bought was young. The problem is when you go to pedigree sales the bulls are shining. They’re soaped up and far too well-fed. If you brought them home, you wouldn’t recognise them the following week.

MM: Yes, with calving difficulty and fertility.

MS: No. I bought local and off a genuine person.

SB: I had a Limousin bull that was supposed to be easy calving, so I put him on 17- and 18-month-old Friesian heifers and I ran into difficulty.

If you buy a stock bull this year, would you insist that the breeder is a participant in the WHPR?

AW: I think farmers will look to avail of it and make the most of the information available. Guys expect more information than they would have in the past.

CC: I would.

DM: If I knew the breeder, I might not look for it. If I didn’t know the breeder, I would insist.

DL: Yes, I would prefer.

JM: It wouldn’t be the number one priority. It would be a help, but if I saw a bull I liked, I’d still buy him.

JS: I wouldn’t insist on it, but it would definitely be a bonus. For me, it would depend on the look and the price of the bull and also whether I knew the breeder.

JoeM: I’d probably use my own judgement on the man selling the bull.

MM: I would going forward, yes.

MS: Yes, I would certainly go in that direction because there is more information.

SB: Yes, this scheme would be ideal. Paper is mainly what I worry about when I’m buying a bull.