ICBF bid for milk records breakthrough

MILK recording results will include pregnancy testing, udder disease or energy balance diagnosis, measurement of methane rejection, and a milk fatty acids profile — if the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation’s bid to incorporate mid infra-red technology in milk testing succeeds.

ICBF’s funding application jointly with Teagasc and partners in Britain, Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg has been successful for a €7.4 million project, 50% funded by the EU’s Interreg programme.

Considerable potential to improve the quality and scope of information to dairy farmers and their advisors over and above the traditional fat, protein and lactose is envisaged. There could be a €115 per cow benefit from improved herd management, including early diagnosis of mastitis.