ICBF Euro-star indices face backlash from two more breed societies
The Irish Limousin Cattle Society and Irish Dexter Society have become the latest to express concerns over Euro-star indices, joining the Simmental, Salers, Charolais, Parthenaise and Blonde societies.
The Irish Limousin Cattle Society has requested that the ICBF removes the genetic evaluation of all registered animals in the Limousin herdbook.
A society spokesperson said this move is in “the best interests of our breeders whose livelihoods are at stake”.
“We are now living with the consequences of the decisions taken in relation to the evaluations by the ICBF board, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), informed by the Teagasc Beef Economic model that was signed off without consultingthe implications for our breeders.”
It comes after five cattle breed societies – Simmental, Salers, Charolais, Parthenaise and Blonde – all announced they were withdrawing Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) Euro-star indices from sales catalogues.
Meanwhile, an Irish Dexter Cattle Society spokesperson stated recent changes to the ICBF algorithm changed the average Dexter herd from a euro value of above plus 100 to a value of below minus 20.
“This one-size-fits-all yoyo algorithm is nowhere near ready for prime time even to achieve its aim of improving commercial beef production. Leaving breeders with no choice other than to make decisions based on star ratings means this reservoir of genetics will be rapidly depleted.”
In November 2023, ICBF revised Euro-star indices, updating the background economic model based on Teagasc research. The monetary value of traits such as carcass weight and calving interval were adjusted to “reflect changes in both market returns and input costs”, according to ICBF.
These updates use data primarily from the CSO and are incorporated into the Teagasc Farms Systems model, ICBF said.
The Irish Charolais Cattle Society has argued that current ICBF indices “lack the recognition of a drop in input costs” that occurred after peak prices in 2022.
“By November 2023, fertiliser costs had dropped back almost 50% from peak prices and meal by over 30pc.”
Teagasc stated that both dairy and beef models use similar assumptions, with a view to “looking towards the future”.
“Both model assumptions around, for example, feed and fertiliser are similar to the current prices observed at farm level.”
“The extremes seen in 2022 were not included as assumptions at any point. The output price for both beef and dairy are constantly under review. Milk price was updated in 2024 and will be implemented in 2025. The beef price will be looked at again.”
“The prices included in the model were not those prevailing when prices were at their peak; rather a longer-term view was taken in terms of where prices might settle. To give one example; at peak urea cost ~€950/t, in the model €500/t was used. As it happens the urea price last spring was ~€490/t (from CSO).”
“The prices included in the analysis for contractor silage harvesting, feed and fertilisers were below 2023 prices to reflect prices are continuing to fall from historic highs and are likely to fall further.”
Relative to 2023 prices, contractor silage harvest prices were 15pc lower, feed prices were 10% lower and N fertiliser prices were 20pc lower, Teagasc added
Reported on:independent.ie