20 NEW IHFA MASTER BREEDERS CROWNED
The IHFA are proud to announce the new Master Breeder awards. 20 worthy winners were named as IHFA Master Breeders 2023 on Wednesday 8th May at a special awards ceremony as part of the IHFA AGM.
Every year herds compete in local and national herds competitions. Some herds make it to the top lists for EBI, production or classification. So, what about herds that combine outstanding performance across a wide range of important metrics. These herds deserve recognition.
The Master Breeder award is a new initiative that recognises herds performing outstandingly on a number of key metrics related to production, sustainability and longevity. Some herds perform better in different aspects, but the top herds all have outstanding performance in a number of areas with few weaknesses.
The strength of IHFA lies in the diversity of genetics and production systems that are based on a top quality black and white cow. Herds recognised as 2023 Master Breeders ranged from 26 to 381 cows, across a wide range of production systems.
The Format
Cows with outstanding performance earn points for the herd. The best herd is the one with the highest average points. The vast majority of points come from actual cow performance as well as a small percentage from the genetic level.
Production
Points are awarded for Kgs solids, percentage solids, Milk Value (From milk recording lifetime reports, which includes a cost of production factor) and genetics for production form the EBI.
The top 5 herds on fat kgs were all over 390 with the top herd on 510.
The top 5 herds on protein kgs were all over 320 with the top herd on 411.
The top 5 herds on Solids kgs were all over 727 with the top herd on 921.
The top 5 herds on Solids % were all over 8.36 with the top herd on 8.56.
The top 5 herds on fat % were all over 4.7 with the top herd on 5.
The top 5 herds on protein % were all over 3.7 with the top herd on 3.7.
The top 5 herds on average milk value per day were all over 4 with the top herd on 5.4.
The top 5 herds on EBI were all over 228 with the top herd on 254.
The top 5 herds on Milk SI were all over 71 with the top herd on 84.
Longevity
Here classification is very important as we can see the relationship of higher classification scores with longevity. Number of lactations and EBI Health sub-index are also included.
The top 5 herds on average lactation number were all over 4 with the top herd on 4.8.
The top 5 herds on average classification were all over 86 with the top herd on 89.4.
The top 5 herds on Health SI were all over 13 with the top herd on 16.
Sustainability
Points are awarded for calving interval, SCC, EBI Fertility and Beef sub-index.
The top 5 herds for Calving Interval were all under 366 with the top herd on 360.
The top 5 herds for Somatic Cell Count were all under 75 with the top herd on 47.
The top 5 herds on Fertility SI were all over 113 with the top herd on 122.
The top 5 herds on Beef SI were all over -3 with the top herd on 5.
IHFA Master Breeders 2023
Our Master Breeders for 2023 listed by Prefix:
| · ROBERT SHANNON | BALLYDEHOB | Co. Cork |
| · TIMOTHY FITZGERALD | BALLYMADDOCK | Co. Laois |
| · ANDREW CRONIN | BALLYMARTIN | Co. Cork |
| · PATRICK FLYNN | COOLMOHAN | Co. Cork |
| · JAMES MURRAY | DERRINSALLOW | Co. Offaly |
| · COLIN WALSH | FAIRVIEW | Co. Dublin |
| · DANIEL M O’LEARY | GLENNY | Co. Cork |
| · JOHN STONE | HALLSTONE | Co. Westmeath |
| · IAN ROBERT MC KEAGUE | INISHOWEN | Co. Donegal |
| · TREVOR DUDLEY | KILSUNNY | Co. Tipperary |
| · JOHN J O’SULLIVAN | LISDUFF | Co. Cork |
| · GERARD CAFFREY | MILLSTREAM | Co. Meath |
| · JOHN O’CALLAGHAN | MOUNTFARNA | Co. Cork |
| · MICHAEL KELLY | POUNDBRIDGE | Co. Limerick |
| · HENRY O’KEEFFE | RADNEY | Co. Cork |
| · KEVIN FLYNN | REARY | Co. Laois |
| · NOEL O’DONOVAN | RINGLEADER | Co. Cork |
| · MICHAEL J HAYES | ROSSAGH | Co. Cork |
| · EDDIE O’FLYNN | RYEFARM | Co. Cork |
| · MICHAEL MURPHY | SKEHANAGH | Co. Cork |
