Moorepark project: Beef-dairy breeding trials centre stage

Scientists based at Teagasc Moorepark are working on trials that aim to improve the beef quality in dairy calves. Stephen Cadogan reports

It is clear from Teagasc's ongoing experiments that in vitro (laboratory) produced embryos transferred fresh can achieve pregnancy rates that are comparable with AI. Picture: iStock

An experiment now going on at Moorepark may point the way towards an expanded dairy herd that also produces valuable beef animals.

It is investigating embryo transfer technology that could enable much better beefing quality in the more than 70% of dairy calves destined for beef production.