After an 84-day finishing period, high replacement index sired bulls – from the Gene Ireland Progeny test centre at Tully, Co. Kildare – achieved an average carcass weight of 352kg at slaughter aged 13-15 months.
The June, July and August-2017 born bulls – 57 in total – had an average kill-out of 57%, with kill-outs ranging from 51% to 61%.
Overall, the animals graded extremely well with one of the bulls grading E; 47 of the bulls fell into the U-grade category and nine bulls graded R. All bulls slaughtered hit the minimum carcass fat specifications of 2+.
The average daily dry matter intake (DMI) for the group was 14.1kg/head ranging from 12.2kg/head to 15.5kg/head. The diet offered during the finishing period consisted of hay and ad-lib concentrates.
The bulls were sired by 22 different high replacement index sires across eight different breeds, including: Aberdeen Angus; Aubrac; Charolais; Limousin; Parthenaise; Saler; Shorthorn; and Simmental.
Click on a thumbnail in the gallery (below) to open up a full-size image; once opened you can scroll sideways to see the next picture. Refer to each caption to see details of sire, age at slaughter, carcass weight, ADG, conformation and fat score.
- Sire: Dereskit Improver; 15 months; ADG 2.45kg/day; carcass weight 322kg; grade U- 3-
- Sire: Doon Eramus; 15 months; ADG 2.1kg/day; carcass weight 380kg; grade U+ 3+
- Sire: Lisnacrann Fifty Cent; 13 months; ADG 2.52kg/day; carcass weight 404kg; grade U+ 2+
- Sire: Dermotstown Gigantosaurus; 13 months; ADG 2.26kg/day; carcass weight 365kg; grade U= 3=
- Sire: Carrentubber Pinocchio; 13 months; ADG 1.95kg/day; carcass weight 327kg; grade U= 3-
- Sire: Lisnacrann Fifty Cent; 15 months; ADG 2.16kg/day; carcass weight 371kg; grade U- 3=
- Sire: Polar Joe 2; 13 months; ADG 2.66kg/day; carcass weight 391kg; grade U+ 3+
- Sire: Kilskeagh Hill 16; 15 months; ADG 2.01kg/day; carcass weight 355kg; grade U+ 3-
- Sire: Cavelands Jolly; 15 months; ADG 2.26kg/day; carcass weight 411kg; grade E- 2+
Other Gene Ireland news
According to Gene Ireland, orders are continuing for Gene Ireland Beef Winter 2018 bulls. To date, 174 herds have now signed up, taking a total of 2,780 straws.
Details on the bulls available and total straws ordered are detailed below.