Genetics isn’t just about output — it’s about efficiency per unit

Introduction

Genetics has fundamentally changed how output is delivered in Irish farming, not simply by increasing production, but by improving efficiency per animal. In dairy systems, breeding decisions are now guided by the Economic Breeding Index (EBI), which ranks animals based on profitability traits such as:

• Milk solids yield.
• Fertility.
• Survival.
• Calving performance.

This reflects a shift away from selecting animals based on appearance or single traits, towards selecting them based on predicted economic performance.

At a national level, Ireland now produces over 8 billion litres of milk annually, with improvements in output driven not just by herd expansion, but by ongoing genetic gain and management improvements. The key point is that production is no longer measured purely in volume, It is measured in:

• Output per animal.
• Output per unit of feed.
• And overall system efficiency.

Genetics is central to that shift.

Data turns performance into something measurable — and manageable

Modern farming operates on continuous measurement. In dairy systems, farmers track:

• Milk yield per cow.
• Fat and protein levels (milk solids).
• Somatic cell count (linked to animal health).
• Calving interval.

Each of these directly affects performance and, in many cases, payment. For example:

• Milk price is influenced by fat and protein content.
• Somatic cell count thresholds affect milk quality and processing suitability.
• Calving interval influences how often a cow produces over its lifetime.

Teagasc data consistently shows significant variation in performance between farms, particularly in areas such as milk solids per cow and per hectare. This variation is not random, it reflects how effectively farms use data to:

• Adjust feeding.
• Manage fertility.
• Monitor herd health.

Performance is no longer assumed, it is measured, analysed, and adjusted.

The system is built around reducing variability

Farming will always involve uncertainty, but modern systems are designed to reduce it as much as possible. Take soil fertility, Teagasc data shows that only 17% of Irish soils are at optimum levels for pH, phosphorus and potassium combined. That means the majority of land is operating below its potential.

Improving soil fertility:

• Increases grass growth.
• Improves nutrient efficiency.
• Reduces variability in output.

Similarly, in grass production well-managed systems can produce 14–16 tonnes of dry matter per hectare annually. Where soils are suboptimal or management is less precise, output is lower, and more variable.

This matters because variability has direct consequences:

• Reduced grass growth increases reliance on purchased feed.
• Inconsistent performance increases costs per unit of output.

The objective is not just higher production, it is more predictable production.

Environmental management is now based on measurable limits

Environmental performance in farming is no longer general or optional, it is defined by measurable thresholds. In Ireland:

• Agriculture accounts for approximately 38% of national greenhouse gas emissions.
• It is responsible for over 99% of ammonia emissions.

As a result, farming operates within clearly defined frameworks. These include:

• Nitrogen limits per hectare under nitrates regulations.
• Nutrient management plans based on soil test results.
• Restrictions on slurry spreading timing and methods.

These are based on scientific understanding of:

• Nutrient losses.
• Water quality impacts.
• Emission pathways.

For example:

• Applying nutrients to soils already at high levels does not improve yield but increases environmental risk.
• Timing of slurry application affects nitrogen efficiency and emissions.

Environmental management is therefore not separate from production, it is part of the same system, managed using data, thresholds, and regulation.

What this shows in practice

Across all of these areas, the pattern is the same:

• Genetics is used to predict and improve performance.
• Data is used to measure and adjust outcomes.
• Management focuses on reducing variability and risk.
• Environmental limits are defined and enforced through measurable criteria.

None of this is based on assumption, it is based on measurement.

Conclusion

Modern farming still looks natural, and in many ways, it is, but underneath that is a system that is:

• Measured.
• Analysed.
• Continuously optimised.

Farmers are managing:

• Biological systems.
• Chemical processes.
• Performance data.

And all of this occurs at the same time, and that’s the reality most people don’t see: Food production today isn’t just practical, it’s technical, and increasingly, it’s scientific.

*By Anne Hayden MSc., Founder, The Informed Farmer Consultancy.