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Beef performance evaluations in a multi-layered and mainly crossbred population
Beef output in the Republic of Ireland is derived from a population of circa 2.25 million cows (58% dairy cows and 42% suckler cows). The commercial suckler herd is predominantly crossbred with a minority pedigree population (3.5%). Beef performance evaluations in the Republic of Ireland have focused on improvement in carcass traits as the breeding goal due to the volumes of data available for this trait from the commercial beef and dairy herds. In addition pedigree herds rely heavily on imported genetics and therefore co-operation with foreign evaluation centers is well established for the sharing and incorporation of foreign breeding values. In the future, participation in the Interbeef project and genomic selection are viewed as two critical developments in the identification of the best genetics available worldwide for Irish farmers.
Keywords:
carcass
crossbreeding
genetic evaluation
