ICSA meets with ICBF on changes to beef breeding indexes

ICSA president Dermot Kelleher has said ICBF must do more to allay farmers’ fears around the introduction of significant changes to Ireland’s beef breeding indexes.

“Major changes to both Terminal and Replacement beef indexes are scheduled to be introduced on 21 November. However, as these changes have been decided upon without adequate consultation with farming organisations or the pedigree breed societies confusion has reigned supreme amongst beef and suckler farmers,” he said.

“Our members have been demanding answers as to why ICBF are making these changes, why they are doing so now, and what it will mean for their farming enterprises.

“Of particular concern is the weighting of certain traits that has resulted in a list of the top one hundred bulls for Replacement index emerging that is heavy in traditional suckler breeds such as Angus and Hereford but low in Continental breeds such as Limousin and Charolais. However, over the course of our meeting, we received assurances from ICBF that within two years a more balanced picture will emerge.”