Northern Ireland dairy farmers offered rare Dutch genetics study tour

The CAFRE Innovation Visit to the Netherlands will focus on genotyping, breeding evaluations and breeding technologies in dairy cows.

Northern Ireland dairy farmers are being offered a rare opportunity to see some of the world’s most advanced breeding and genotyping technology in action as CAFRE launches applications for a specialist innovation visit to the Netherlands.

The three-day study tour, taking place from Monday 31 August to Wednesday 2 September 2026, will place local farmers at the centre of cutting-edge developments shaping the future of dairy production — from DNA-based breeding decisions and methane reduction strategies to precision feed efficiency technologies and elite reproductive systems.

For farmers across Northern Ireland facing growing pressure around sustainability, profitability and environmental targets, the visit is designed to provide direct insight into how leading Dutch dairy operations are using science and data to improve herd performance while cutting emissions.

Focus on the future of dairy farming

The innovation visit forms part of the newly launched Farming for Sustainability – Innovation Scheme, delivered through the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).

CAFRE said the programme aims to expose participants to international leaders in dairy advancement, particularly in the rapidly developing field of genotyping technology.

Genotyping allows farmers to assess the genetic potential of dairy cattle with significantly greater accuracy by analysing DNA profiles. In the Netherlands, breeding values are now produced for more than 50 traits linked to milk production, animal health, feed efficiency and dairy type.

The technology is increasingly influencing breeding decisions on farms, helping determine which calves should be retained as replacements and which mating combinations are most suitable for future herd improvement.

Inside the Dutch breeding system

One of the key stops on the visit will be the headquarters of CRV, the organisation responsible for national breeding evaluations in the Netherlands.

Participants will see how DNA profiles produced through genotyping are used to generate detailed genetic proofs for dairy animals.

Beyond core breeding values, genomic testing can also reveal information including:

• levels of inbreeding

• the presence or absence of traits such as red factor and polled genetics

• A2 milk potential

• kappa casein traits

• fertility-related lethal genes and haplotypes

CAFRE said the technology is now playing a major role in Dutch mating programmes and wider herd management strategies.

Precision technology and methane reduction

The programme will also include a visit to a commercial dairy farm involved in a national reference population programme.

There, farmers will see how production and fertility data is combined with precision technologies including:

• individual cow liveweight monitoring

• feed intake recording systems

• 3D imaging technology

• methane measurement systems

The information gathered is linked with genetic data to help produce more robust breeding proofs, particularly around feed efficiency and lower methane emissions.

The work is part of a broader push towards more environmentally sustainable dairy production systems, an issue becoming increasingly important for the industry both locally and internationally.

Visit includes world-leading dairy research campus

Farmers selected for the trip will also visit the 500-cow Dairy Campus at Wageningen University, widely recognised as one of the world’s leading dairy research facilities.

The focus there will centre on sustainable and profitable breeding practices, including breeding cows with a lower genetic predisposition to emit methane.

Researchers are also examining how breeding and nutrition strategies can work together, including production systems using low-protein diets.

The final stop on the programme will take participants to CRV’s elite Breeding Centre, where they will see reproductive technologies such as ovum pickup being carried out on some of the Netherlands’ highest genetic merit cows.

CAFRE said the visit will allow local farmers to see first-hand how genetic technologies, phenotypic data and reproductive systems are helping keep Dutch dairy breeding at the forefront of international dairy production.

Who can apply and what is covered

Applications are open to one member or employee from a farm business who is aged 18 or over by the application closing date.

Only 18 places are available, with preference given to applicants who meet the selection criteria and those who have not previously participated in an Innovation Visit.

Successful applicants must also commit to attending pre-trip and post-trip training sessions, with dates to be confirmed.

Costs associated with accommodation, travel, meals and organising the visit will be covered through the Sustainable Agriculture Programme.

Participants will, however, be responsible for additional expenses including farm relief and travel insurance.

Farmers interested in applying can find further information and complete an application form via: https://bit.ly/3R7MOMK

Applications close at 4pm on Friday 29 May 2026.

The initiative comes as the dairy sector across Northern Ireland continues to face mounting pressure to improve environmental performance while maintaining profitability, with breeding efficiency and lower-emission production increasingly central to the future direction of the industry.