Enhancing dairy-beef performance through genetics

Agriland

28-04-2025

As the price gap between the upper and lower quality dairy-beef progeny continues to widen, Dovea Genetics has emerged as the leader in providing Ireland's greatest proven dairy-beef genetics.
With a strong commitment to innovation, genetic excellence, and proven performance, Dovea Genetics stands out as Ireland's number one choice for proven quality in dairy beef genetics.
At the heart of Dovea Genetics' success is an unwavering focus on physical and genetic excellence.
Dovea Genetics' dairy-beef sires are carefully selected to ensure that farmers receive only the best in terms of performance, growth rates, and carcass quality.
The rigorous selection process involves not just evaluating individual animals based on figures but also analysing their genetic lineage and physical traits, ensuring that each sire performs in Irish herds.
Numbers speak volumes, and Dovea Genetics' dairy-beef sires consistently deliver impressive results for the dairy farmer.
Week after week, Dovea Genetics-sired calves have been highly sought-after in marts across Ireland this spring, with Dovea Genetics-sired dairy-beef calves crossing the €1,000 mark this spring in Tullamore mart, Gortatlea mart, and Milltown mart!
Fertility to the fore
Since spring 2023, Dovea Genetics has collaborated with the pioneering Norwegian biotechnology firm, SpermVital, to introduce their groundbreaking fertility product to the Irish market.
SpermVital's innovative solution doubles the lifespan of semen within the uterus, significantly extending the window for insemination and enhancing the likelihood of successful fertilisation.
This advancement not only increases the chances of pregnancy but also provides greater flexibility during the breeding season.
Backed by rigorous research verifying its efficacy, studies conducted in Germany that compared SpermVital technology to conventional methods revealed an 8.3% higher non-return rate when using SpermVital, underscoring its potential to enhance reproductive success.
With a remarkable longevity of up to 48 hours inside the uterus, SpermVital semen offers unparalleled flexibility and reliability.
As the 2025 breeding season approaches, an increasing number of farmers are implementing Spermvital technology in their herds to achieve higher conception rates within a defined breeding period.
Success stories from the dairy-beef field
Inseminations with sexed semen on Eoin Doorley's farm in Shinrone, Co. Tipperary, introduced Dovea Genetics' leading dairy-beef range to produce quality calves capable of meeting their growing local demand for beef calves.
Eoin places his trust in Dovea Genetics' proven genetics to ensure easy calving, short gestation, and consistently superior beef genetics, ensuring a profitable and efficient breeding programme.
Eoin Doorley on his farm in Shinrone, Co. Tipperary. Image source: Dovea Genetics
Sires used on the herd include:
Kealkil Stockman (AA7188);
Keirsbeath Karma (AA4638);
Negrita Du Lac (BB8019).
Building on last year's success with Spermvital at the end of his breeding season, Eoin will once again utilise Spermvital to boost conception rates at the tail-end of this year's season.
This strategic choice underscores Eoin's commitment to achieving optimal breeding outcomes and maintaining a top-tier herd.
Over on Victor Austin's farm in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary, sexed semen is almost completely allocated to maiden heifers.
This strategic approach enables Victor to utilise Dovea Genetics' top beef merit sires across his cows throughout the breeding season.
Among the elite high beef sub index sires selected for Victor's herd are:
Knockmahon Opel (CH6292);
An De Beauffaux (BB4438);
Keirsbeath Karma (AA4638);
Ryans Victorious (AA9843).
Victor emphasises producing high-quality beef progeny, raising them through to yearlings before sale.
This focused breeding programme ensures the consistent production of exceptional beef genetics, reinforcing his commitment to excellence and profitability in beef production.
Dovea Genetics: Ireland's premier choice for dairy-beef sires
Dovea Genetics offer Ireland's greatest range of dairy-beef genetics, with a consistent emphasis on elite beef sires that facilitate easy calving, short gestation, and top-tier, saleable calves.
Our sire selection process integrates rigorous scientific research to identify the most outstanding beef sires capable of meeting the evolving needs of both dairy and beef producers.
At Dovea Genetics, we are proud to host Ireland's leading dairy beef sires on the ICBF Active Bull List, including:
Ireland's No. 1 Dairy Beef Index Sire: Fellfort W Robo 1637 (AA1943) at €193
Fellfort W Robo 1637 (AA1943) at €193 Ireland's Top Proven Limousin Sire on the Active Bull List: Sliabh Felim Sterling (LM8929)
Sliabh Felim Sterling (LM8929) Leading Beef Sub Index Limousin Sire: Drumline S 1185 (LM9577)
Drumline S 1185 (LM9577) Ireland's No. 1 Dairy Beef Index Angus Sire: Fellfort W Robo 1637 (AA1943)
Fellfort W Robo 1637 (AA1943) Easiest Calving Proven Angus Sire: Kealkil Stockman (AA7188)
Kealkil Stockman (AA7188) Leading Proven Aubrac Sire: Deerpark Rowe (AU8953)
Deerpark Rowe (AU8953) Most Proven Belgian Blue Sire: An De Beauffaux (BB4438)
An De Beauffaux (BB4438) Top Proven Charolais Sire (Beef Sub Index): Cattanview Supreme
Cattanview Supreme Top Proven Charolais Sire (Calving Sub Index): Knockmahon Opel (CH6292)
Knockmahon Opel (CH6292) Leading Beef Sub Index Shorthorn Sire: Clonina Explorer 300 (RO)(P) (SH4609)
Clonina Explorer 300 (RO)(P) (SH4609) Ireland's No. 1 Belted Galloway Sire: Ballylough Ranger (BY4875)
Our focus on superior genetics, combined with Ireland's leading semen fertility rates, ensures enhanced conception success, improved calving ease, reduced gestation lengths, and industry-leading calf quality.
By choosing Dovea Genetics, farmers not only invest in exceptional genetics but also gain access to comprehensive data and insights that enable them to optimise calf value and overall herd performance.