Artificial insemination (AI) in the dairy herd is running 8% to 10% ahead of last year, early figures suggest.

The Irish Farmers Journal surveyed the country’s main AI companies this week with all reporting an increase in activity over the past 12 months.

There are reports of inseminations ahead by as much as 10%.

Progressive Genetics chief executive Brendan Scanlon said that after a slow start, the market has picked up rapidly.

“We’re about 8% ahead of this time last year,” Scanlon said. “We were down for the first quarter but we’re up well in April,” he added, pointing to the good weather in April driving activity.

In relation to the delayed active bull list, Scanlon described it as a “blip”.

He said the company had to “work hard” to talk to farmers who had ordered straws and needed them replaced.

Munster AI chief executive Kevin Coffey said his figures were also up on last year.

“We’re a couple of days away from having official figures but the early indications are that they are strong … they are looking at being ahead of last year,” Coffey said.

Tom Baker with Eurogene / LIC said it is “hard to call” on where AI figures are at.

“We won’t be able to get a clear picture probably until the end of May when the handheld figures are back with us,” he said.