Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture tours ABP Demo Farm

Members from the Joint Committee of the Oireachtas on Agriculture, Food, and the Marine recently made a trip to the ABP Innovation Farm located in Clonegal, County Carlow, to receive updates on the research findings produced there. Present at the farm alongside ABP representatives were Committee Chairperson Deputy Jackie Cahill, along with Committee Members Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice and Deputy Matt Carthy. The visit was aimed at discussing the outcomes of a joint research initiative involving ABP, Teagasc, and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). The project's results were shared with key committee members including Chairperson Deputy Jackie Cahill, Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice, and Deputy Matt Carthy. This research has demonstrated the potential for a substantial decrease in emissions from Irish beef cattle by enhancing the genetic makeup of the beef herd, with a possible reduction in emissions by as much as 13%. Additionally, the study has indicated that farmers could see an increase in earnings by approximately €200 for each animal, offering a significant boost to profitability. These findings are crucial for aiding the agricultural sector in Ireland to meet the objectives outlined in the Climate Act and can be adapted for various beef production methodologies. Conducted at the ABP Innovation Farm, this research spans six years and includes data from over 4,000 animals. The insights gained are being disseminated to farmers nationwide via the ICBF database, which has seen over 233,000 calves born and raised on Irish farms from beef bulls involved in the program. The adoption of superior genetics not only enhances growth rates through more efficient feed conversion but also allows for animals to reach market size sooner, thereby markedly lowering emissions.