Farmers who used the Jersey bull Bradene Pas Triplestar (JE4289) during the 2019 breeding season are reporting lower than normal conception rates – some falling below 50%.

A spokesperson for Progressive Genetics which, along with Munster Bovine, sells the bull’s semen accepted that his performance declined in 2019.

“His 2018 performance was about average at 55% conception rate, but this declined by two or three percent in 2019 and we are currently investigating why that is.

“The bull’s semen passed all quality control measures in New Zealand, Holland and Ireland, before it went on to farms. He was also widely used in New Zealand in the season just gone, so we will be looking closely at how he performed over there,” the spokesman said.

Up to 10,000 straws of Triplestar were used in Ireland last year. The company says that it expects to have clarity on his expected fertility for this season over the coming days and, if they don’t have confidence in him, it will tell farmers.