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DEAR SIR: The tone of the letter by Tom Cannon to the Irish Farmers Journal on 30 May is regrettable. I note Mr Cannon states he is over 20 years retired from dairy farming and I would kindly suggest he should acquaint himself with the partnership approach and co-operation that now exists between IHFA and ICBF. Staff across all areas of both organisations have a close working relationship on a daily basis.
I wish to inform the general readership of the continuous sharing of data by IHFA with ICBF, which is essential to the development and improvement of dairy cattle breeding across all sectors. The IHFA changed its system of validation of stock bulls to genomics when introduced in 2012 by the ICBF. The IHFA was to the fore in support of this new advanced science which is contrary to the views expressed by Mr Cannon in his letter.
I would kindly suggest he should acquaint himself with the partnership approach and co-operation that now exists between IHFA and ICBF
It is to the credit of the IHFA that the DNA data compiled by its breeders over 15 years prior to the introduction of genomics was made available for research by ICBF geneticists. This data bank of thousands of DNA samples was fundamental in building the reference population so important to interpreting genomic data.
Genomic evaluation is mandated for all male registrations by IHFA as part of herdbook rules. In addition, conformation data scores across 36,000 animals annually by IHFA is made available for research by ICBF in order to improve the accuracy of herd health and development of a new feed efficiency index. Indeed, Mr Cannon, a former member of IHFA, would be better served by engaging with IHFA and ICBF in establishing the facts. Surely this level of co-operation by the IHFA could not be reasonably interpreted as “ignoring and denigrating” the work of the ICBF.
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