A County Roscommon bred Limousin topped the league in the ICBF Gene Ireland Beef Testing Programme for young bulls across all beef breeds at the end of 2015.

The latest statistics show that the March 2014 born, Clonark Jumbo bred by Thomas McDonnell, Clonark, Athlone, Co Roscommon took the lead over the Simmental, Curaheen Earp, with the Angus, Carrigroe Kian coming in a close third, based on the number of straws ordered by breeders.

ICBF data confirm that 255 herds signed up for participation in the testing programme, with a total of 4,455 straws ordered by the end of 2015.

The average order was for 17 straws.

Breeds available through the programme include Angus, Aubrac, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, Parthenaise, Piedmontese, Saler, Shorthorn and Simmental from which semen is available to purchase from ICBF for €5 per straw.

The bulls on the panel were selected for their suitability to meet the 'star' requirements for the new Beef Data and Genomics Programme ( BDGP).

A total number of 1,000 straws are taken from each selected bull in the panel, with 500 available to purchase by breeders both pedigree and commercial.

The other 500 straws are retained by ICBF and are available to purchase once the bull has been proven and the initial 500 straws are sold.

Clonark Jumbo is from a well established herd and comes with a plus of €131 and is rated five stars within the breed and across all breeds under both terminal and replacement indexes.

Carcase

The expected performance of progeny also carries five stars for both conformation and carcase.

The daughters are also predicted to achieve five stars for milk.

However, as with most young bulls, the stats come with reliability classed as 'low'.

Curaheen Earp was bred by David Wall, Newcastle, Co Dublin and has a rating of five stars for both maternal and terminal indexes, with five stars for ranking within the breed and four stars for rank within all breeds.

The progeny are expected to be plus 30kg on carcase with daughters given five stars for milk.

Indo Farming