Certified Irish Angus invests in top Angus genetics as part of breed improvement programme

Members to benefit through access to AI from superior elite Angus bull.

Certified Irish Angus has embarked on a breed improvement program with the aim of improving the environmental and economic sustainability of its 10,000 active farmer members.

At the Irish Angus Elite Show and sale on Saturday, 11^th of December 2021, Certified Irish Angus purchased a top-quality young bull (Drumcrow Tribesman) from the McKiernan family, who are well known in breeding circles for their superior cattle. The purchase of this bull is a joint venture with Dovea Genetics.

Based on expert physical assessment coupled with ICBF Genomic evaluations, this exceptional Angus bull was chosen as best in class. It is now planned that Certified Irish Angus Producer Group will make this bull available through AI to all its members, with the aim of improving the quality of the animals they produce.

It is intended that the use of these superior genetics will increase the performance of Certified Irish Angus members cattle in terms of shortening the time it takes to reach finishing weight, therefore reducing emissions.

The introduction of these elite genetics increases the ability of Angus cross cattle to produce beef efficiently from a grass diet without the addition of imported cereal feeding. This in turn drives reduction in emissions from the transport associated with that feed, while increasing the financial sustainability of the farm through a reduction in overall production costs.

This Certified Irish Angus breed improvement program will be headed up by Catherine Smyth who joined Certified Irish Angus 12 months ago. Catherine holds a 1.1 honours degree in sustainable agriculture and has a vast experience of cattle breeding through her family’s involvement in livestock breeding for generations.

Offspring from this bull will also be used in the Certified Irish Angus school competition which forms an education aide to students studying Agricultural Science for Leaving Cert and provides students with an insight into efficient animal breeding, feeding, processing, and marketing.

Charles Smith Managing Director said, “We are thrilled with the purchase of this bull in partnership with Dovea Genetics. Through this partnership we are delighted that we can now bring Elite Angus genetics to all our members. By making these Elite genetics available on a large scale we intend to drive down emissions from Certified Angus beef production while at the same time improving the financial sustainability of our family farm members. For the consumers of Certified Irish Angus beef this move provides assurance that the beef they consume and enjoy is produced in a sustainably driven manner.”