Irish beef prices rocket as AI companies head to Australia chasing genetics

The trade for Angus dairy beef calves in Ireland is roaring, with artificial insemination companies and breeders headed to Australia chasing genetics.

They say Australian Angus genetics have the ability to produce a carcase that fits the European grading system.

The World Angus Forum, to be held in Brisbane in May, is firmly on their itinerary.

Irish industry leader in livestock management and genetics BullWise is one company headed our way.

BullWise is Ireland's main distributor for CRV, the farmer-owned co-operative from The Netherlands which has bull barns around the world and sells 11 million doses of semen annually across the globe.

BullWise director Eustace Burke said beef factory prices in Ireland in the past few weeks had broken the 7 pounds a kilogram barrier flat rate, with a quality standard payment and also an Angus bonus of roughly 165 pounds/head being added.

Those record highs were being reinforced by record exports as Ireland was currently Bluetongue-free, he said.

"Live exports in 2025 to date are 31 per cent up on 2024 and if Ireland can maintain its Bluetongue-free status, the only curtailing factor on exports and factory prices will be the availability of livestock," he said.

Mr Burke said he was headed to the World Angus Forum to learn more about Australian genetics, for both BullWise and his own herd, Clontead Aberdeen Angus.

"Australia has a lot to offer Ireland," he said.

"Ireland, similar to a lot of Europe, needs to produce the best possible livestock from a restricted number of acres, therefore quality and kilograms are key.

"Average compensated by increased numbers simply does not work in our system."

The traits he will be seeking for Irish herds will include good stature and strong loin, while having inherent survivability, hardiness and calving ease.

More births

Angus genetics had seen huge growth in Ireland in recent years and was now the number one beef breed with 525,000 Aberdeen Angus calves born in 2023, Mr Burke reported.

"To put that in context, it is 180,000 more births than its nearest competitor. Angus-sired calves now represent 32pc of the beef-sired calf births in Ireland and we would envisage this to continue increasing in the coming years."

Angus-sired calves represented 51.3pc of the dairy beef calves in Ireland in 2023.

In 2013, there were 150 000 Angus dairy beef calves born in Ireland and in 2023 it had increased to 432,000 - a 188pc increase.

The dairy industry had seen huge growth in Ireland since the abolition of dairy quotas, Mr Burke said.

Beef-on-dairy is the primary market for Irish pedigree breeding bull sales, he said.

"A key differential in Ireland from most other countries is that due to the seasonal calving pattern of the dairy herd - primarily spring - the introduction of sexed semen has had a positive impact on bull sales and in particular AA bulls," he said.

"While AA bulls would have always been the breed of choice for dairy maiden heifers, AA bulls are now the firm choice for dairy cows also.

"These bulls have demonstrated a greater ability to cope with the increasing dairy herd sizes and have the hardiness and vigour to work."

Bull power

All pedigree bulls in Ireland are genomically tested on a 50k SNP and receive a replacement, terminal and dairy beef evaluation.

The beef versus dairy breakdown in Ireland over the last ten years shows that huge increases have been experienced in the dairy sector, while during the same period a gradual decline in the beef herd has been experienced.

Mr Burke said dairy beef inseminations had not increased at the rate experienced in other countries around the world. Due to the seasonal calving nature of the Irish dairy herd and conception being key, farmers had put their faith in AA bull power increasingly rather than dairy beef insemination, he said.

The majority of dairy beef calves are sold at three weeks of age circa 60kg to 70kgs. All calves are sold on the open market with the majority at livestock marts and the remainder typically being farm-to-farm or farm-to-exporter sales.

Environment laws

Beef farming in Ireland was typically a part-time enterprise, and as such had not been as impacted by environmental legislation, Mr Burke said.

"Contrast this to the dairy industry where environmental legislation has been the main factor to reduce growth to a standstill," he said.

"The introduction of dairy banding has seen stock rate decreases in Ireland and ultimately the need for dairy farmers to reduce numbers in order to milk on the same land block or increase the land block in order to milk the same number of cows.

"Typically, the latter has been the case in Ireland, which means dairy has encroached on tillage, beef and sheep acres."

Dairy banding refers to changes to nitrates regulations. Prior to its introduction, each dairy cow in the country was assigned a standard figure of 89kg of N/head. Now, herds will be banded depending on their average milk kilograms per cow.

Banding may bring some farms over their relative farm stocking rate limits of 170kg/ha or 250kg/ha N (derogation) limit in 2024 or 220kg/ha limit in 2025, Mr Burke said.

• Australia will host the Neogen World Angus Forumin Brisbane from May 6 to 8. See more here.