The RDS has, without notice to breed societies, slashed the money it pledged for its annual livestock awards.

Amounting more than €10,000 last year, the RDS livestock awards consisted of nine cattle breed awards and an EBI/€uroStar and four sheep breed awards. The winners were traditionally selected by each breed society in recognition of the previous year’s achievements.

Now, the 2019 RDS livestock award fund has been cut to just €5,000.

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The awards will be the economic breeding index (EBI) award; best dairy cow; €uro-Star index award; best beef cow; dairy herd index award; beef herd index award; and the LambPlus breeders’ index award.

All nominations will be on the recommendation of ICBF, with breed societies no longer having any input.

The societies were not contacted by the RDS about the changes, which come as a big blow for them and summer shows that host qualifiers and finals for breeders to compete for the prestige of an RDS title.

A spokesperson for the RDS told the Irish Farmers Journal it felt bad that it could not reach out to breed societies sooner but the decision was only recently approved.

The spokesperson added that a prize fund of over €20,000 will still be awarded, but in the form of rural development and forestry awards.