William McGrath, Co. Cork - 2023 RDS Beef Herd Index Award Winner

The winner of the 2023 RDS Beef Herd Index Award is William McGrath, Co. Cork.

The McGrath family operate a full time suckler beef farm. The cows are calved in a 100% A. I. closed herd spring calving system. Every animal in the herd is sired by an A. I. bull.

William’s herd is an excellent example that by doing all the right things you can improve, and ensure, profitability and sustainability. His herd is in the top 5% nationally across a number of key performance indicators. He has shown great involvement in ICBF schemes and his herd replacement index has increased from €84 in 2018 to €112 in 2023. Has been involved in the Beef Gene Ireland programme since 2009.

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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.

For more information visit www.rds.ie/agriculture.