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Figures released by the ICBF show a 9% increase in the use of AI across Irish farms.
There have been 705,898 serves to date this year, compared with 646,735 served within the same period last year.
The ICBF’s figures show that the number of beef inseminations within dairy herds is up 25% from the same period last year.
Figures are up
To date this year, there has been 79,760 beef inseminations in dairy herds, compared with 63,675 in 2018 (figures based from May 2018 to May 2019).
Overall, this provides a 9% increase in artificial inseminations.
The ICBF has characterised the increased usage of beef sires to dairy cows within herds as positive.
The ICBF believes that farmers are finally realising the benefits and are now maximising the potential of dairy-cross calves.
AI use of beef sires, such as Holstein, Hereford, Belgian Blue and Limousin, have all witnessed a steady increase, with only British Friesians and Jersey sire use dropping significantly.
AI companies have reported excellent submission rates, which have been helped by good cow condition, fine weather and great genetics.
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