RDS Livestock Awards
The RDS Livestock Awards are the only awards of their kind in Ireland that recognise the genetic merit of animals based on scientific indexes. The awards are linked to the Irish Cattle Breeders Federation (ICBF) and Sheep Ireland databases.
Call for entries is closed for 2024.
The winner in each of the below categories will receive €1,000 and an RDS Silver Medal. Category winners will also receive a specially commissioned trophy.
ICBF and Sheep Ireland base their decision on the data available to them so the RDS are truly celebrating and highlighting the most productive, most efficient farmers and livestock in the country.
1. Economic Breeding Index (EBI) Award - Best Dairy Cow
EBI is a single figure profit index aimed at helping farmers identify the most profitable bulls and cows for breeding dairy herd replacements. It comprises of information on seven sub-indexes related to profitable milk production
2. Euro-Star Index Award - Best Beef Cow
The Euro-Star Index is a breeding index designed to aid beef farmers in the selection of more profitable breeding animals. Euro-Star Indexes quantify the genetic component of an animal's performance across all traits of importance for Irish suckler farmers.
3. Dairy Herd Index Award
This award recognises the best herd based on a number of key performance indicators including EBI index, Calving Interval, 6-week calving rate, Fat and Protein kgs supplied to the milk co-op.
4. Beef Herd Index Award
This award recognises the best herd based on a number of key measures including calving interval, percentage of heifers calved between 22 and 26 months of age, spring 6-week calving rate, and Euro-Star replacement index.
5. LambPlus Breeders Index Award
This award gives recognition to the breeders who are leading the way in performance recording and genetic gain and to those flocks that have made a significant genetic improvement over the past number of years.
-
- Economic Breeding Index (EBI) Award - Best Dairy Cow - Stamullen Doireann owned by Brendan Meade, Co. Meath Find out more
- Euro-Star Index Award - Best Beef Cow - Gerard Collins, Co. Clare Find out more
- Dairy Herd Index Award - Jim White, Co. Tipperary Find out more
- Beef Herd Index Award - William McGrath, Co. Cork Find out more
- LambPlus Breeders Index Award - William Hutchinson, Co. Kilkenny Find out more
-
2022 Spring Agriculture Award Winners Announced
- Economic Breeding Index Award - Ballygown PKK Lucy EX91 owned by Seamus Knox, Co. Kilkenny
- Euro-Star Replacement Index Award - Moondharrig Flora owned by Liam Walsh, Co. Kilkenny
- Dairy Herd Index Award - Tom Garry, Co. Clare
- Beef Herd Index Award - Tommy Quinlan, Co. Kilkenny
- LambPlus Breeders Index Award - Anne Murphy, Co. Wexford