At a meeting on Tuesday night, the board agreed the inclusion of 2015-born bulls that have just received calving evaluation data should be included in the 2017 active bull list. To get on to the list, calving evaluation is necessary combined with high EBI figures.

Also, it was decided to implement revised genomic evaluations based on new data showing genomic evaluations are overestimating Economic Breeding index (EBI) figures by approximately €30.

Genomic sires used between 2009 and 2011 are now generating data that is allowing more definitive figures to be generated on individual sires.

Effectively, the board has decided to bring forward the May proof run to mid-March to allow farmers make more relevant decisions before purchasing AI sires over the coming weeks.

The relevance of the list had been declining in recent years so these changes should help keep the list important for farmers.

Full details are in the Spring AI Focus supplement with this week’s Irish Farmers Journal.

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ICBF active dairy bull List – autumn 2016

Buying a bull: look at him, then his figures, then the auctioneer