asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what percentage of the 250 Friesian and Shorthorn bulls in AI are known to be improving milk yields.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Improvement in Milk Yields.
7.
Progeny testing, as practised here and in several other countries, is used to rank bulls in relation to each other for important economic characteristics such as milk yield, milk quality, heifer conformation and beefing qualities of male progeny.
At present 169 Friesian bulls and 74 Shorthorn bulls are standing at AI stations. Of these 38 Friesian bulls, or 22.5 per cent, and 12 Shorthorn bulls, or 16 per cent, are fully tested and approved on the basis I have indicated. 20 Friesian bulls, or 12 per cent, and 34 Shorthorn bulls, or 46 per cent, are at varying stages of testing. The remaining Friesian and Shorthorn bulls are too young to have progeny available for testing.