Commercial Beef Value benefits showcased to dairy-beef producers

Farmers visiting the Dairy Calf-to-Beef Village as part of BEEF2024, Teagasc’s National Beef Open Day, heard of the benefits of the Commercial Beef Value (CBV), and how its use at purchase time can result in more profitable and efficient dairy-beef systems.
Exploring the CBV in depth, Dr Margaret Kelleher, a Quantitative Geneticist with ICBF, noted that it is an index for gauging the quality and expected profitability of non-breeding animals, and can be used in either a suckler or dairy-beef context.
Comprising of elements such as: carcass weight; feed intake; factory spec; carcass conformation; finishing age; docility; and carbon, the CBV can help beef farmers to make more informed decisions when purchasing animals, the ICBF representative explained.
To shed light on the effectiveness of the tool in selecting better performing and more profitable animals, Margaret Kelleher looked at both dairy steers and Angus cross Friesian steers finished in 2023 (table 1 below).
Table 1: Performance of dairy and Angus cross Friesian steers finished in 2023 on the basis of CBV
Dairy steers finished in 2023 | |||
---|---|---|---|
CBV Rank | Calf price | Finishing price | Finishing age |
Top 10% | €99 | €1,538 | 817 |
Mid 50% | €78 | €1,415 | 824 |
Bottom 10% | €56 | €1,263 | 833 |
Difference (top 10% versus bottom 10%) | €43 | €275 | -16 |
Angus cross Friesian steers finished in 2023 | |||
Top 10% | €249 | €1,763 | 778 |
Mid 50% | €229 | €1,632 | 788 |
Bottom 10% | €191 | €1,490 | 831 |
Difference (top 10% versus bottom 10%) | €58 | €273 | -53 |
The analysis found, across both breed types, that animals ranked higher in terms of CBV achieved a higher price at finish and were finished at younger ages, indicating that lower CBV calves did prove more expensive to the rearer through a lower finishing price and by taking longer to finish.
Additionally, Dr Nicky Byrne, a dairy-beef systems researcher in Teagasc Grange, outlined the work that has been ongoing in the research centre over recent years. Like the ICBF analysis, these studies have highlighted the benefits of using higher CBV animals.
In summary, studies have found that replacing Holstein Friesian steers with high CBV Angus steers resulted in an additional €196 profit per head. When comparing the performance of Holstein Friesian, low CBV Angus and high CBV Angus steers, the research found that high CBV steers performed best – in terms of profit and greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of carcass produced - across either a conventional grass-only system or a system where concentrates were introduced from July onwards of the second season at a feeding rate of 4kg/head/day. Within breed, the research work in Grange also found that selecting for high CBV Angus over low CBV Angus resulted in an increase in profitability of €228/ha.
Alan Dillon (left) and Nicky Byrne pictured at the Dairy-Beef Village at BEEF2024
At the same demonstration, Alan Dillon, Co-ordinator of the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Campaign, looked at the important factors to consider when selecting a dairy-beef system for your farm, such as land, labour and facilities. The importance of meeting weight gain targets was also highlighted, with Dillon explaining that animals must perform on farm from arrival to the point of sale and this can only be achieved through adequate nutrition and health programmes, and having appropriate housing facilities available.
Table 2: Key growth targets for dairy-beef animals
ADG (kg) | Live weight (kg) | |
---|---|---|
Calf rearing | 0.7 | 85-90 |
First grazing season | 0.8 | 230 |
First winter | 0.7 | 315 |
Second grazing season | 0.9 | 490 |
The work ongoing in dairy-beef heifer systems research at Teagasc Johnstown Castle was also presented by Dr Ellen Fitzpatrick. This research focuses on 17, 19 and 21 month heifer production systems, offered three pasture types – perennial ryegrass only, grass-clover, and multispecies swards. Both early maturing (Angus and Hereford) and late-maturing (Limousin and Belgian Blue) genetics are being studied. Initial results from this research has shown that heifer finishing is profitable and that the incorporation of clover can increase profit by €74/head through greater animal performance and lower inputs.
Also read: 12 DairyBeef Factsheets Launched