Trends in Dairy and Beef Sire Usage in 2026: A Data Overview

As of mid-2026, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) has reported a total of 848,705 artificial insemination (AI) serves, slightly down from the 857,117 serves recorded by the same time last year. The data highlights that IG Parkduv Magical (FR2534) is the leading dairy bull with 16,122 serves. This bull, sired by Oldcastletown Mojo, boasts an Economic Breeding Index (EBI) of €242, with a milk sub-index of €108, translating into 40kg of milk at 14.96kg fat and 11.8kg protein.

The second most used dairy sire is Johnswell Rory (FR9289), with 13,182 serves, followed closely by Tuohy Historic (FR8658) with 13,156 serves. Notably, the top bull from last year, Tankardsrock Teak, had significantly more serves at this time, with a total of 30,267. The restructuring of the Active Bull List in recent evaluations suggests a strategic shift among farmers to diversify the bulls used, likely to mitigate risks.

The top 20 dairy bulls for 2026 reveal a focus on positive milk and fertility figures, aligning with trends observed by AI companies. The list is led by Parkduv Magical, followed by others like Tinnakill Grandslam and Mortalstown Matisse, demonstrating a spread across different bulls.

In terms of beef sires used within dairy herds, the Angus breed dominates, with HW Lord Horatio V538 leading with 15,002 serves. The top 15 beef sires include ten Angus, three Hereford, one Belgian Blue, and one Charolais. This indicates a strong preference for Angus in dairy-beef operations, reflecting the breed's desirable traits.

These data points suggest that while the volume of AI serves has slightly decreased, the strategic choices of sires reflect an ongoing preference for certain genetic traits, both in dairy and beef production. The continued usage of diverse bull teams highlights a cautious approach in breeding strategies among farmers.