NCBC recently hosted young farmers from the ‘Area Jovenes de Aproval’ group from the south of Chile. This discussion group represents the next generation of farmers in Chile. 
As their parents and grandparents before them are facing the challenges of modern dairy farming in South America, the main objective of their visit to Ireland was to learn about the grass-based production systems and the strategies that Irish farmers use to comply with various regulations and requirements. 
In a short few days they received a lot of excellent technical and practical learnings from both the Irish Industry and Irish farmers as to how technology, human resources, management and genetics are being successfully integrated together in Ireland.
In total there were 14 young farmers and their advisor in the group. They really enjoyed sharing and discussing their own experiences in Chile with everyone they met here and really enjoyed getting a new perspective on dairy farming from Ireland.
The group visited the following herds:

• Paul & Siofra Ryan, Birr, Co.Offaly
• Tom Fennelly, Tinnakill, Portarlington, Co.Laois
• Laurence & Lorcan mcDonnell, Hill of Down, Co.Meath
• Brendan Meade, Stamullen, Co.Meath

Visiting the herd of Paul & Siofra Ryan

Visiting the herd of Tom Fennelly with his ‘Tinnakill’ herd. This herd has bred the very popular NCBC bull ‘(IG) Tinnakill Grandslam’ and has also bred ‘(IG) Tinnakill Cadet’ who is the latest bull from this outstanding herd to enter the NCBC Dairy Breeding programme.

Visiting the herd of Laurence and Lorcan McDonnell who operate their high EBI dairy herd with Lely robot milking machines.

Visiting Brendan Meade and his high EBI ‘Stamullen’ herd. This herd has bred many very popular high EBI dairy bulls for the NCBC Breeding programme such as (IG) Stamullen Lunasa and (IG) Stamullen Zakery amongst many others.

The Chilean Group at Teagasc  Moorepark

 

The Chilean Group at Teagasc Grange

Mathew Thompson (ICBF) presenting to the group in Teagasc Moorepark.

Vanessa Mancenido & Ed Webb (Ireland Genetics) giving an overview of the NCBC breeding programme to the group.

The group visited Teagasc Grange and Teagasc Moorepark where they received excellent technical talks from Joe Patton, Nicky Byrne and Donagh Berry. They also got a great overview of the genetic evaluation developments that are ongoing in Ireland from Mathew Thompson of ICBF.

Vanessa Mancenido and Ed Webb also gave an overview of the NCBC  breeding programme and our export business.

Huge thanks are due to the host farmers who gave of their time and facilities to accommodate this trip. 

Many thanks also to Michael Quinn and Sean Hayes (Progressive Genetics Breeding Advisors), Tom Baker (Munster Bovine Commercial Manager) for their assistance prior to and during the trip. 

NCBC (The National Cattle Breeding Centre) operates the Dairy & Beef breeding programmes for Ireland’s largest AI Organisations - Progressive Genetics & Munster Bovine.