Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
Methane is the largest contributor with 64% of the total. At farm level, Irish dairy farmers are using EBI to breed more efficient, profitable cows.
The EBI allows farmers to:
Deliver higher milk solids from grazed grass;
Improve dairy cow fertility which leads to longer lactations and reduces replacement rates.
Cow comparison
Martin compared the performance of two cows within the Kildalton dairy herd, cow number 3098 (a Jersey crossbred cow) and cow number 3102 (a Holstein Friesian cow), both being third calvers.
Martin stated: ”Cow number 3098 produced 7,684kg of milk in her second lactation, with cow number 3102 producing almost 2,000 less kg of milk.
SHARING OPTIONS:
Jamie and Lorraine Kealy s herd is a spring-calving system with an emphasis on high fertility underpinning high EBI figures. / Philip Doyle
Tullow Mart in Co Carlow held their first dedicated dairy sale on Wednesday last. The highlight of the trade was a special entry of 30 spring 2020-born maiden dairy heifers offered for sale by local farmers Jamie and Lorraine Kealy. The heifers had Economic Breeding Index (EBI) figures in excess of €180, which was underpinned by strong fertility credentials.
The heifers sold in an excellent trade, with the group achieving an average sale price of €1,060 per head. There was a tight range in price with 29 out of the 30 selling from €1,000 to €1,100 and the remaining heifer sold for €1,120.
‘A cut to the national herd is inevitable, it’s necessary. But the cut should occur on the beef side first.” This is leading economist Professor John Fitzgerald’s frank view on where the “mature discussion” on the future of Irish dairy should start.
Will beef be the loser as mature discussion on dairy unfolds? independent.ie - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from independent.ie Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
It s a brave man who would look to make his fortune milking cows with little if any experience of agriculture let alone dairy farming but it s one which Irishman, Peter Hynes has embraced to such an extent that he now owns one of the highest genetic merit herds in the country. Over the past 10 years, Peter and his wife Paula have improved both the productivity and profitability of what began as a traditional 50-cow milking herd based just outside Aherla Co Cork , into one that has not only more than trebled in size but also boasts numerous industry accolades for efficiency and genetic improvment.