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This week the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association launched a genomic scheme for its members under which all bull calves will be registered.
The new scheme will see the association fund the entire cost of genomic testing all bull calves born in 2018 from its own resources. In future, all first-calving heifers joining the herd will also be genomically tested.
The Irish Aberdeen Angus Association and the Scottish Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society met with representatives from ICBF and a road map for this ambitious project was agreed. They see this venture as a vital move in protecting markets which are constantly striving for higher traceability and certification.
Much talk has arisen around the genotyping of all calves born nationally from birth, but this move marks the first big step made in this direction by any Irish beef breed society.
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