Embryo transfer calves in the Belgian Blue breed accounted for 147 calves, or 39%, of the pedigree breed’s calf crop in 2015, most recent figures from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) indicate.
Across all breeds, embryo transfer accounted for 1,051 of the pedigree calf crop in 2015, representing 3% of pedigree calves.
The Belgian Blue breed continued to have the highest proportion of embryo transfer calves, however, this has continued to fall having represented 58% of Belgian Blue calves born in 2012.
Charolais had 364 embryo transfer calves in 2015 and Limousin had 341, with this representing 4% of the calf crop in both breeds.
Parthenaise had the second highest proportion of within breed embryo calves, with the 22 calves born representing 7% of the 2015 Parthenaise calf crop. This is an increase on 2014 levels when 4% of Parthenaise calves were embryo transfer bred, but the 2015 level is on par with 2013.
Imported dams
Other figures from ICBF show that the majority of foreign dams of pedigree calves come from the UK or France. The UK represented the country of origin for 1.4% of pedigree dams in 2015 and 1.2% of pedigree cows came from France.
Overall, only 3% of Irish pedigree beef calves’ dams in 2015 were imported, meaning 97% of pedigree dams were Irish born.
The remainder of pedigree dams (around 0.4%) came from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany and Italy.
Parthenaise had the highest proportion of foreign dams in 2015 with the 58 dams representing 22.5% of the breed’s dams. The 48 foreign dams in the Piedmontese breed equated to 22% of the breed’s dams in 2015.
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Top five pedigree sale prices of 2016
Irish Pedigree Breeder magazine out now
Embryo transfer calves in the Belgian Blue breed accounted for 147 calves, or 39%, of the pedigree breed’s calf crop in 2015, most recent figures from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) indicate.
Across all breeds, embryo transfer accounted for 1,051 of the pedigree calf crop in 2015, representing 3% of pedigree calves.
The Belgian Blue breed continued to have the highest proportion of embryo transfer calves, however, this has continued to fall having represented 58% of Belgian Blue calves born in 2012.
Charolais had 364 embryo transfer calves in 2015 and Limousin had 341, with this representing 4% of the calf crop in both breeds.
Parthenaise had the second highest proportion of within breed embryo calves, with the 22 calves born representing 7% of the 2015 Parthenaise calf crop. This is an increase on 2014 levels when 4% of Parthenaise calves were embryo transfer bred, but the 2015 level is on par with 2013.
Imported dams
Other figures from ICBF show that the majority of foreign dams of pedigree calves come from the UK or France. The UK represented the country of origin for 1.4% of pedigree dams in 2015 and 1.2% of pedigree cows came from France.
Overall, only 3% of Irish pedigree beef calves’ dams in 2015 were imported, meaning 97% of pedigree dams were Irish born.
The remainder of pedigree dams (around 0.4%) came from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany and Italy.
Parthenaise had the highest proportion of foreign dams in 2015 with the 58 dams representing 22.5% of the breed’s dams. The 48 foreign dams in the Piedmontese breed equated to 22% of the breed’s dams in 2015.
Read more
Top five pedigree sale prices of 2016
Irish Pedigree Breeder magazine out now
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