Benetifs of genetic improvement highlighted at Limousin congress

Farmers from around the world attended the 22nd International Limousin Congress in Athlone, Darren Carty from of the Irish Farmers Journal chairing Sunday morning's session. Its main message was optimising output while minimising input in production. Also speaking in the morning, Joe Burke of Bord Bia discussed Origin Green, while Teagasc's Donagh Berry and Andrew Cromie of the ICBF spoke on genetic improvement.

Burke addressed population growth as one of the main issues for global agriculture. The global population is expected to reach 9.2 million by 2050, forcing farmers to produce more from less. Land, energy and water consumption, and greenhouse gases will all have to be taken into consideration as the world will need 70% more food by 2050.

Our emissions are declining – we just need to prove it now

Burke said Origin Green aims to provide a benchmark, grow knowledge and share expertise with farmers. Ireland has the lowest carbon footprint for dairying in Europe and the fifth lowest for beef production. According to Burke, “our emissions are declining – we just need to prove it now, to show customers what we’re doing”. He added that in the Netherlands for example, importers of Irish food will now only source from Origin Green-accredited companies, as customers see value in this initiative.

Genetic editing

Teagasc geneticist Donagh Berry highlighted the fast adoption of genomic evaluation here, saying that “Ireland has more genotyped Limousins than the rest of the world”. Compared with 2008, farmers are now paying 7% of the original price (€22) for the same genomics technology.

Asked about the future of genomics, Berry said it lies in genome editing. This involves going into the DNA of the animal and “editing” it. It’s essentially “playing God” with genetics. It has the ability to reduce or eradicate certain diseases, for example TB which costs the industry up to €70 million a year. Not to be mistaken for GMOs, genetic editing does not involve changing the DNA of the animal or inserting genes.

Five-star females proven to be more profitable

Andrew Cromie of the ICBF said that Limousin was the main breed of cattle in Ireland in 2015 with 9,046 births. He, too, highlighted the need to produce more output from less input. Up until 2010, farmers were washing out the maternal traits, thinking terminal traits were more important, he said. However a plethora of problems arose, such as not getting a calf every year, which is crucial for Ireland’s seasonal breeding. Now the ICBF is highlighting the importance of maternal traits, including reducing calving problems, fertility, weight of calf, milk production and docility.

Does it work? In 2011, the ICBF carried out a study on more than 160,000 heifer calves which would be coming into the herd in 2013. The answer is yes, according to Cromie, who said that that five-tar females are proven to make farmers more money.

Of the 162,000 tested, 50,000 were Limousin; 86% of the five-star females are still alive, while only 71% of the one-stars are alive. Five-star calves are 30kg heavier, cows are two months younger at age of calving, re-calving is 20 days earlier and cows have higher milk production. “Five-star cows are leading to more profit,” says Crombie. They are also finishing 24 days earlier, which is three weeks' savings in feed costs.

On climate change , Crombie said: “What our governments are spending on climate and the environment is huge, we need to convey to our governments the need to invest in genomics. Cattle and genomics are not only part of the issue but also the solution.”

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The world’s largest Limousin event comes to Ireland