All of the spring 2023-born dairy-beef cattle have been slaughtered off the ABP Demo Farm and farm manager Sean Maher has analysed how these cattle have performed compared to groups from previous years.
The farm manager said that overall “performance has been good with a few interesting changes from last year”.
He noted that in mid-August of this year, cattle weights were “well behind” previous years but despite this, the average heifer carcass weight increased by 4kg which he said “was unexpected” due to the reduced weights in August while the average steer carcass weight did fall by 2kg.
Commenting on performance by sire breed, he said: “The Limousin-sired cattle performed well with steers up 10kg on last year and heifers up 12kg.”
“We had less Friesians this year but the quality was well up. These averaged 322kg [carcass weight] compared to 313kg the previous year. Grading improved too going from a P=/P+ on average to an O= on average this year.”
The finishing period was not as long as was initially expected with the average finishing period for the heifers one day shorter than last year and the average finishing period for steers six days longer than in 2023. Average grades were very similar for the cattle overall when compared to last year.
The table below details the number of cattle that fell into each confirmation grade this year:
Grade Count O- 16 O= 69 O+ 132 R- 105 R= 49 R+ 7 U- 1
The best grade was a U-3- and this was a Belgian Blue cross steer sired by (BB7740) and the steer had a carcass weight of 338kg.
Maher said: “The two steers that were on the ABP stand at the Tullamore Show were slaughtered this week.
The two tables below compare the heifer and steer performance of the 2023-born cattle that were slaughtered this year and the 2022-born cattle that were slaughtered last year:
“The aim of this was to showcase the importance of genetics and animal breeding whilst also disseminating the work done on the Demo farm. The big bullock was sired by AA7500 and graded R=4= with a carcass weight of 420kg. The smaller bullock was sired by AA7818 and was an O+4- and had a carcass weight of 300kg.
“There was over €700 difference in carcass value between the two. These have received the same treatment since the day they landed and in fact the smaller bullock cost €20 more as a calf”
The ABP Demo Farm manager said that the performance of the cattle based on the sire will be analysed in the New Year.