The ICBF has published a list of the most used sires on beef cows recorded on its database in the first half of 2021.
The most popular ‘beef on beef’ sire so far this year is Limousin bull, Moondharrig Knell.
According to the federation’s database, LM4217 recorded 6,786 AI handheld serves in the first half of 2021.
It stated that this figure does not include DIY serves and, therefore, “his actual usage will be higher in reality”.
Most used sires on beef cows
Another Limousin sire, ZAG (Castleview Gazelle), is in second place, with 6,591 AI handheld serves.
Third on the list is Charolais bull, Lapon. CH4321 has 5,930 AI handheld serves recorded in beef herds in the first half of this year.
The federation stated that these three sires were all progeny tested through Beef Gene Ireland.
Charolais bull, Fiston, features fourth on the 10-strong list, with 5,709 handheld serves.
Ranking fifth is Angus bull, Intelagri Matteo (ET), with 2,386 handheld serves.
Limousin bull, EBY (Elderberry Galahad) claims the sixth spot with 2,303 handheld serves. On his heels with 2,160 handheld serves is Ewdenvale Ivor (LM2014).
Three bulls had under 2,000 handheld serves.
SI2152, Curaheen Earp, recorded 1,532 handheld serves with Cross Liam (LM4591) at 1,312 and Knottown Roy (SA4606) at 1,160.
The list features:
- 5 Limousin bulls;
- 1 Aberdeen Angus;
- 2 Charolais;
- 1 Salers;
- 1 Simmental.
The federation produced the above list using data from 01-01-2021 to 30-06-2021.
It has also released a list of the top 10 dairy bulls used on dairy cows based on total AI handheld serves for the same period.
List: Most popular beef AI sires of spring 2020
Last year, the federation published a list containing the most used beef AI sires in the first half of 2020.
It explained that the figures are based on calves born from January to June 2020 with a sire recorded.
Providing a list of ten sires, it said that these bulls account for 42.6% of progeny born in this period.
| AI Code | Name | Replacement Index (€) | Breed | Number of Progeny | Star Rating (Across Breed) | Terminal Index (€) | Star Rating (Across Breed) | Beef Cow Calving Difficulty % |
| ZAG | Castleview Gazelle | 117 | LM | 10,438 | 5 | 125 | 4 | 3.4 |
| FSZ | Fiston | 133 | CH | 9,969 | 5 | 157 | 5 | 5.7 |
| LZF | Cavelands Fenian | 110 | CH | 5,131 | 5 | 120 | 4 | 4.9 |
| EBY | Elderberry Galahad | 109 | LM | 4,983 | 5 | 124 | 4 | 3.1 |
| LM4217 | Moondharrig Knell | 157 | LM | 4,512 | 5 | 123 | 4 | 3.9 |
| LM2014 | Ewdenvale Ivor | 161 | LM | 4,318 | 5 | 160 | 5 | 2.4 |
| FWO | Fleetwood | 51 | CH | 2,269 | 2 | 136 | 5 | 5.6 |
| CH4159 | Knockmoyle10 Loki ET | 36 | CH | 1,990 | 1 | 157 | 5 | 5.8 |
| KYA | Cornamuckla Lord Hardy K222 | 131 | AA | 1,777 | 5 | 63 | 2 | 1.3 |
| CH2218 | Bivouac | 169 | CH | 1,611 | 5 | 155 | 2 | 3.8 |
[Data source: ICBF]
