Progressive Genetics has released its newest spring dairy beef sires catalogue, featuring various Angus, Hereford, Limousin, Belgian/British Blue, Charolais, Simmental, Salers, Speckle Park, Shorthorn, Aubrac, and Longhorn sires.
The objective of its dairy beef breeding programme, according to a spokesperson, is to deliver higher beef value, carcass weight and conformation while achieving calving ease and short gestation to maximise calf quality and value.
A spokesperson told this publication:
“Progressive Genetics is part of the largest dairy and beef breeding programme in Ireland.”
“We have invested heavily in our Dairy Beef programme. Through our breeding programme (NCBC), we can offer farmers the benefits of short gestation and easy calving whilst also being able to offer farmers high beef sub Index sires.”
“This is to enable dairy farmers to produce calves with a high Commercial Beef Value (CBV) to help contribute towards the overall sustainability of Dairy Beef Production systems in Ireland,” the spokesperson added.
“We have the number 1 AA sire available on the DBI index [note: beef-proof file], the top 3 Hereford sires (Barwise 1 Ricochet, Fabb 1 Nutcracker and Fisher 1 Profile P456) available on the DBI active list, the no.1 polled HE sire available on the beef-sub index and the no.1 CH bull available on DBI active list,” the spokesperson claimed.
Selecting bulls
When searching through its dairy beef catalogue, the company’s advice is to:
- Decide which breed you wish to use;
- Use the bull panels below to select the appropriate sires for your maidens, second-calvers, cows and mature cows;
- Then select the highest carcass weight and beef value within your calving range;
- Record the sire of the calf.
The spokesperson then previewed the following dairy-beef sires:
Prohurst Eoghan (AA7485) [main image]
According to the spokesperson, Prohurst Eoghan is the no.1 sire available on the Dairy Beef Index Bull Proof List (see note at bottom of article).
Tower Tommie (AA7506)
Tommie is a Te Mania Berkley son with a DBI of €197, a short gestation and a carcass weight of +16.2 kgs
Intelagri Matteo (AA4089)
The spokesperson branded Matteo as the no.1 sire available for use on dairy maidens, combining calving ease with a very short gestation ad +9kgs of carcass weight.
Other notable highlights include:
Fisher 1 Profile PP (HE5346)
According to the spokesperson, this is the no.1 Polled HE sire available in Irish AI.
Gouldingpoll 1 Zoro (HE6841)
Gouldingpoll 1 Zoro (HE6841) is the “complete package”, combining High Beef Value and calving ease and carrying an “impressive” carcass weight figure of +8.9kgs.
BBG ELK 236 DE BOULOGNE (BB7278)
The spokesperson stated that this is an “exceptional” sire that combines short gestation & calving ease on dairy cows with “exceptional” calf quality.
Powerful Proper (LM7416)
Proper possesses +21kgs carcass weight and has a DBI of €116, and is in the top 1% of the Limousin breed on gestation length, the spokesperson explained.
Lapon (CH4321)
Lapon is the No.1 CH bull available on DBI, possessing an “exceptional” + 41 kgs carcass weight & has 5-star carcass conformation figures, they added.
[Note: All imagery and information in this article provided by Progressive Genetics.
Note: ICBF Dairy Beef Index Bull Proof File – The ICBF states that proofs are provided for beef AI bulls with a minimum DBI of 25% and a progeny-based dairy calving proof. Date of evaluation: Jan 24th, 2023. Source:
View the catalogue.
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