DALEVALLEY
COMPLETE DISPERSAL
280 HEAD
FREETRANSPORT
THIS SAT 31/3/07 (@ 11.00AM -PLEASE NOTE TIME-Sale must & will start @ 11.00 AM)
at Carnone House, CASTLEFIN, Lifford for Ms Roy & Heather Cromie (087-2479395).
The DALEVALLEY DISPERSAL SALE- Selling The ENTIRE MILKING HERD-151 COWS Plus All Youngstock incl 25 Served Heifers due Aug-Oct; 70 Bulling & Yearling Heifers; 45 Heifer Calves; 4 Bull Calves. 30 day TB & Bruc EXPORT Tested. FREE TRANSPORT to all Parts of Ireland North & South.
SALE STARTS @ 110..AM SHARP.
Sale signed from CASTLEFIN
Friday 30 March 2007
Crunch board talks at ICBF taking place.
The fallout from the disease outbreak at Tully is expected to dominate today's board meeting of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). Key issues to be considered include how the ICBF will fund the compensation package agreed with breeders.
The Irish Farmers Journal reports that there are behind the scenes moves against the chief executive this week, led by disaffected members of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA). They have been long time critics of Brian Wickham.
Members of the Pedigree Cattle Breeders Council are due to make a presentation to the ICBF board tomorrow on issues of concern.
Tully difficulties
They had a number of concerns prior to the onset of the Tully difficulties, including the role of the chief executive.
Dr Doreen Corridan was appointed by the board to liaise on these issues and has reportedly made some progress.
Chairman of the ICBF is John O'Sullivan, who is a noted Holstein breeder, is nominated to the ICBF board by the Pedigree Cattle Breeders Council.
The Irish Farmers Journal reports that there are behind the scenes moves against the chief executive this week, led by disaffected members of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA). They have been long time critics of Brian Wickham.
Members of the Pedigree Cattle Breeders Council are due to make a presentation to the ICBF board tomorrow on issues of concern.
Tully difficulties
They had a number of concerns prior to the onset of the Tully difficulties, including the role of the chief executive.
Dr Doreen Corridan was appointed by the board to liaise on these issues and has reportedly made some progress.
Chairman of the ICBF is John O'Sullivan, who is a noted Holstein breeder, is nominated to the ICBF board by the Pedigree Cattle Breeders Council.
Bull of the week - Overside Dictator
Overside Dictator’s first proof run heralds a new star in the making, with an incredible 88% of his classified daughters scored GP or Better, and an early type proof of +2.2, great things are expected. For production Dictator also shines offering +353kg milk and positive fat and protein percentages.
Bred in Hugh Neilson’s highly acclaimed Overside herd in Lanarkshire, Dictator is an early son of the noted Alzi Juror Ford from the exceptional brood cow Overside Convincer Delight EX93. Convincer Delight EX93 has been an all round success story for Hugh, having yielded over 16,000kg at 4.1% Fat and 3.7% Protein in her 3rd lactation, been Reserve Champion at the National Holstein Show in 2004 and already having bred a number of highly successful daughters including Dictator’s full sister Overside Ford Delight VG88-2yr, that sold for 13,000gs at the Black & White Sale in 2002.
Convincer Delight herself comes from a notable heritage, with her dam being an EX93 Fatal daughter that was able to shine in the parlour as well as the show ring. She then traces back to the world renowned Snow-N Denises Dellia EX95 that has already bred some of the world’s most sought after bulls such as Durham & Dundee.
Dictator daughters have fantastic udders, super legs and feet and the ideal balance of strength and dairyness demanded by modern dairy farmers all over the world. “Dictator daughters are not extreme cattle, but you just have to love their balance, and ability to look like they are not trying whilst performing well above herd average,” comments Cogent sire analyst Hugh Pocock “this combination is what everyone is looking for now in a modern cow.”
Bred in Hugh Neilson’s highly acclaimed Overside herd in Lanarkshire, Dictator is an early son of the noted Alzi Juror Ford from the exceptional brood cow Overside Convincer Delight EX93. Convincer Delight EX93 has been an all round success story for Hugh, having yielded over 16,000kg at 4.1% Fat and 3.7% Protein in her 3rd lactation, been Reserve Champion at the National Holstein Show in 2004 and already having bred a number of highly successful daughters including Dictator’s full sister Overside Ford Delight VG88-2yr, that sold for 13,000gs at the Black & White Sale in 2002.
Convincer Delight herself comes from a notable heritage, with her dam being an EX93 Fatal daughter that was able to shine in the parlour as well as the show ring. She then traces back to the world renowned Snow-N Denises Dellia EX95 that has already bred some of the world’s most sought after bulls such as Durham & Dundee.
Dictator daughters have fantastic udders, super legs and feet and the ideal balance of strength and dairyness demanded by modern dairy farmers all over the world. “Dictator daughters are not extreme cattle, but you just have to love their balance, and ability to look like they are not trying whilst performing well above herd average,” comments Cogent sire analyst Hugh Pocock “this combination is what everyone is looking for now in a modern cow.”
Thursday 22 March 2007
Teagasc Dairy Open Day
A must for all dairy farmers
Location: Ballyhaise Agricultural College.
Date: Thursday, 19 April 2007
Time: 11am to 4pm
Programme
-Exciting new research
-Grazing in difficult conditions
-Targets from local on-farm research
-Working within the Nitrates Directive
-Using EBI to breed the best dairy cow for the region
-Economics of milking with limited land at milking platform
-Cross breeding with Jerseys/Norwegian Reds for profit
-Early grazing (€2.70/cow/day extra profit)
-Roadways, cow walks, water requirements
-Measures to improved fertility
Visitors must arrive between 10.30 – 11.00am
Tea/sandwiches provided
Location: Ballyhaise Agricultural College.
Date: Thursday, 19 April 2007
Time: 11am to 4pm
Programme
-Exciting new research
-Grazing in difficult conditions
-Targets from local on-farm research
-Working within the Nitrates Directive
-Using EBI to breed the best dairy cow for the region
-Economics of milking with limited land at milking platform
-Cross breeding with Jerseys/Norwegian Reds for profit
-Early grazing (€2.70/cow/day extra profit)
-Roadways, cow walks, water requirements
-Measures to improved fertility
Visitors must arrive between 10.30 – 11.00am
Tea/sandwiches provided
Thursday 15 March 2007
Connacht Gold lift milk price
The long awaited upturn in milk prices has finally arrived, with a board meeting at Connacht Gold yesterday agreeing to increase March milk price by 2.5 cent per gallon (0.55c/litre).
Given the dramatic improvements in market returns, Connacht Gold's increase is expected to be the first in a series of price rises by all processors.
It was also confirmed this week that there is no butter in intervention in Ireland for the first time since 1999.
The Irish Dairy Board last week announced further increases in returns. Butter is up a further €100/t and Skim milk powder by €158/t retrospectively from 5 March.
According to the IFA, the IDB combined SMP/butter index is now up a further 1.8c/l (9c/gal) to 32c/l. The total increase since July 2006 is now 6c/l (28c/gal).
IFA National Dairy Committee chairman Richard Kennedy said that milk price increases of up to 2.2c/l (10c/gal) are fully justified.
"Co-ops who are currently paying a base price of between 23.5 and 25.3c/l are getting totally unprecedented margins over the IDB SMP/Butter index of between 6.7 and 8.5c/l (30.5 and 38.6c/g),'' Richard Kennedy said.
Connacht Gold has also announced new quality bonus payments; milk with a total bacterial count (TBC) of less than 30,000 will qualify for 0.3c/l bonus, while deliveries with a somatic cell count (SCC) of less than 200,000 will earn a similar bonus.
For supplies that meet both criteria, March milk price could potentially increase by as much as 1.21c/litre (5.5c/gallon).
Given the dramatic improvements in market returns, Connacht Gold's increase is expected to be the first in a series of price rises by all processors.
It was also confirmed this week that there is no butter in intervention in Ireland for the first time since 1999.
The Irish Dairy Board last week announced further increases in returns. Butter is up a further €100/t and Skim milk powder by €158/t retrospectively from 5 March.
According to the IFA, the IDB combined SMP/butter index is now up a further 1.8c/l (9c/gal) to 32c/l. The total increase since July 2006 is now 6c/l (28c/gal).
IFA National Dairy Committee chairman Richard Kennedy said that milk price increases of up to 2.2c/l (10c/gal) are fully justified.
"Co-ops who are currently paying a base price of between 23.5 and 25.3c/l are getting totally unprecedented margins over the IDB SMP/Butter index of between 6.7 and 8.5c/l (30.5 and 38.6c/g),'' Richard Kennedy said.
Connacht Gold has also announced new quality bonus payments; milk with a total bacterial count (TBC) of less than 30,000 will qualify for 0.3c/l bonus, while deliveries with a somatic cell count (SCC) of less than 200,000 will earn a similar bonus.
For supplies that meet both criteria, March milk price could potentially increase by as much as 1.21c/litre (5.5c/gallon).
Wednesday 14 March 2007
Bull of the week - SPOCK
Bull of the week this week is the Eurogene top selling holstein, Art-acres Patron Spock (AAP). A bull who has breed some super cows in both pedigree and commerical herds. He has just jumped to EBI to 107 at 94% rel. ,below are the current production figures for Spock.
Milk- +283kg
Protein- +0.04% +11.5kg
Fat- -0.10% +5.0kg
EBI- 107
C.I.- -3.95
Surv.- +1.55
Type- +0.44
F&L- +0.03
Udder- +0.64
A superb bull across the broad and able to be widely used in all management systems, be it New Zealand type seasonal with his -3.95 day calving interval or be it liquid milk with his good production figures.
Milk- +283kg
Protein- +0.04% +11.5kg
Fat- -0.10% +5.0kg
EBI- 107
C.I.- -3.95
Surv.- +1.55
Type- +0.44
F&L- +0.03
Udder- +0.64
A superb bull across the broad and able to be widely used in all management systems, be it New Zealand type seasonal with his -3.95 day calving interval or be it liquid milk with his good production figures.
Monday 12 March 2007
Crossbreeding Trail Update
The cow required for future Irish milk production systems must be robust and ‘easy care’ as well as being capable of producing high milk solids, the majority of which must come from grazed grass.
Crossing the Holstein-Friesian with an alternative dairy breed sire can provide farmers with an alternative opportunity to increase overall animal performance by increasing herd health, fertility and milk value. This is due to the introduction of favourable genes from another breed and through hybrid vigour.
Genetic gain must not be neglected i.e. only the best sires of both breeds should be used when crossbreeding. That means using high EBI.
Two studies are currently under way at Moorepark evaluating the potential of dairy crossbreeding: one study is evaluating the Norwegian Red and Norwegian Red crossbred cows across 46 commercial dairy herds, and the second trial is evaluating the Jersey and Jersey crossbreds at Ballydague. In both studies the cows have just completed 1st lactation.
Early results from the Norwegian Red on-farm study suggest that Norwegian RedxHolstein-Friesian cows produce similar milk yields with similar milk composition compared to Holstein cows. The yield of milk produced by the pure Norwegian Reds was slightly lower, with lower fat content. Crossbred cows also displayed similar live weight to the Holstein-Friesian but had higher body condition score at all stages of lactation. Fertility and udder health were also in favour of the Norwegian Red and crossbred cows.
The first year results from the Ballydague Jersey trial show that milk volume was highest with the Holstein-Friesian and lowest with the Jersey. However, a substantial lift in milk constituents with the Jersey and Jersey crossbred resulted in a similar yield of solids for all three breed groups. Jersey and Jersey crossbred cows were lighter than Holstein-Friesian cows but maintained higher body condition score at all stages of lactation. Fertility performance was in favour of the Jersey and JerseyxHolstein-Friesian cows.
Both Norwegian Red and Jersey calves are easily born and early maturing.
To present economic comparisons for the studies presented at this point is considered premature. However, these preliminary data suggest that crossbreeding with the Norwegian Red or Jersey are real options for Irish dairy farmers.
Taller cows
The Agricultural Research Forum, currently taking place in Tullamore, County Offaly, has heard how dairy cows are now more docile, faster milking and taller. The strong trend towards more angular cows over the last decade is a consequence of the upgrading of the traditional British Friesian to Holstein.
Genetic selection in Irish dairy cattle over past decades has predominantly been on milk production. Genetic correlations with milk production suggest that, under such breeding objectives, animals will become taller and wider, and develop deeper, more strongly supported udders.
Research carried out at Teagasc Moorepark, in conjunction with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, suggests that animals are indeed getting taller.
Genetic selection in Irish dairy cattle over past decades has predominantly been on milk production. Genetic correlations with milk production suggest that, under such breeding objectives, animals will become taller and wider, and develop deeper, more strongly supported udders.
Research carried out at Teagasc Moorepark, in conjunction with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, suggests that animals are indeed getting taller.
Saturday 10 March 2007
Journal reports Beef IBR fall-out
The fall-out from the IBR debacle at the Tully Performance test station in Co Kildare will almost certainly result in the indefinite closure of the performance test station, the Farmers Journal reported.
A quick and practical resolution of the crisis is essential in order to keep beef breeding progress in Ireland on track. The ICBF does not have the resources for a costly and prolonged dispute on the issue. ICBF maintain that the best veterinary advice was followed.
The affected pedigree breeders have been scathing in their criticism of the ICBF's handling of the outbreak. In the past, an advisory committee was available that allowed consultation with breeders. This committee was allowed to lapse in recent times.
Last Thursday the ICBF advertised a rescheduled Tully sale but this was cancelled. The most likely outcome now is that breeders will be given the option of taking home their bulls for private sale. Veterinary experts maintain that given the testing and vaccination regimes used for the animals, breeders should have little difficulty finding buyers. However, some breeders are pushing hard for their bulls to be slaughtered and compensation paid. Some breeders are already threatening to take the legal route, an option that would be highly damaging for ICBF.
It is no secret that ICBF chief executive Brian Wickham is not universally popular with pedigree breeders. This latest crisis is providing ammunition to this group and he faces a difficult task to negotiate his way out of the crisis. Ironically, well-known vet and pedigree breeder Dr Doreen Corridan had only recently taken up a board-appointed role to resolve long running disputes between the cattle breeding body and pedigree breed societies. She was reported to have been making major progress on those difficulties. Tully is now top of her agenda.
A quick and practical resolution of the crisis is essential in order to keep beef breeding progress in Ireland on track. The ICBF does not have the resources for a costly and prolonged dispute on the issue. ICBF maintain that the best veterinary advice was followed.
The affected pedigree breeders have been scathing in their criticism of the ICBF's handling of the outbreak. In the past, an advisory committee was available that allowed consultation with breeders. This committee was allowed to lapse in recent times.
Last Thursday the ICBF advertised a rescheduled Tully sale but this was cancelled. The most likely outcome now is that breeders will be given the option of taking home their bulls for private sale. Veterinary experts maintain that given the testing and vaccination regimes used for the animals, breeders should have little difficulty finding buyers. However, some breeders are pushing hard for their bulls to be slaughtered and compensation paid. Some breeders are already threatening to take the legal route, an option that would be highly damaging for ICBF.
It is no secret that ICBF chief executive Brian Wickham is not universally popular with pedigree breeders. This latest crisis is providing ammunition to this group and he faces a difficult task to negotiate his way out of the crisis. Ironically, well-known vet and pedigree breeder Dr Doreen Corridan had only recently taken up a board-appointed role to resolve long running disputes between the cattle breeding body and pedigree breed societies. She was reported to have been making major progress on those difficulties. Tully is now top of her agenda.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)