Charlie Smyth, a progressive farmer from Virginia, Co. Cavan, has made remarkable strides in transforming his farm’s beef production system to achieve higher profitability, productivity, and sustainability. His farm, once primarily suited to dairy farming, now focuses on dairycalf to beef production, thanks in part to his involvement in the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Campaign and his growing use of the Commercial Beef Value (CBV) system.

For Charlie, the transition from dairy to dairy-beef was a necessity born out of market conditions and soil suitability. With heavy clay soils on his fragmented farm, Charlie found that a high stocking rate was more sustainable with dairy-beef systems rather than traditional dairy farming. This shift to dairy-beef allowed Charlie to make full use of his land while improving profitability through better grassland management and a tailored feeding program.

One key to Charlie’s success is the strategic improvement of his calf sourcing practices. Initially, he purchased calves from various sources, but he soon realised that focusing on higher merit calves with better genetics was the way forward. This is where the Commercial Beef Value (CBV) system comes in. “The CBV gives us greater insight into the genetic merit and potential performance of the animals,” says Charlie. By selecting calves with higher CBV ratings, Charlie can predict which animals are likely to achieve better growth rates and higher-quality carcasses, helping to ensure more consistent and profitable finishes.

The CBV system provides a benchmark for farmers to compare animals’ genetic potential and is a useful tool for making informed purchasing decisions. Charlie has already seen the benefits of CBV in his own herd. In his Annual Finishing Report (CBV), Charlie compared the performance of different groups of cattle, focusing on the CBV ratings of his dairy-beef cross steers. He found that animals from the top third of the herd, those with higher CBV ratings, yielded carcass weights that were 39kg heavier, while also grading one unit higher on average than those from the bottom third. Moreover, these top animals achieved a €237 higher factory price, improving profitability.

Charlie’s performance metrics reveal impressive gains in efficiency. While the national average for dairy-beef steers at finishing is around 325kg carcass weight at 27 months, Charlie is finishing his steers under 24 months. Interestingly, the high CBV group were reaching similar carcass weights (321kg) to the national average, despite finishing at a younger age. “By finishing some of my cattle at 23 months, I’m not only increasing cash flow but also improving overall farm productivity,” Charlie notes.

The CBV has also helped Charlie optimise his animal selection, allowing him to purchase calves within different breeds from AA, AU, HE, SI & SH. While he initially relied heavily on Friesian calves, he diversified his herd with beef sired breeds. There is LM, BB, SI, HE & AA sired cattle in the herd and these breeds are increasing the CBV of his herd.

This combination of better genetics, strategic grassland management, and tailored calf selection has made Charlie’s farm more productive than ever. “I’m currently finishing around 120 calves each year, and we’re now finishing them at 21 to 22 months on average, compared to 28 months when we first started,” he adds. These improvements have allowed him to lower production costs and increase his profit margins.

Charlie’s journey is a prime example of how the CBV system can enhance the profitability, productivity, and sustainability of the dairy calf to beef sector. By combining data-driven calf selection with sound farm management practices, Charlie has created a more efficient, profitable beef enterprise.

Farmers across Ireland, particularly those purchasing calves this spring, can learn from Charlie’s approach to integrating genetic metrics like CBV into their business strategies. The results are clear: through better genetics, better management, and a focus on sustainability, Irish beef farmers can unlock higher returns while reducing costs and improving the overall performance of their herds.

Top Tips:

· Use the CBV system to select high-genetic merit animals, ensuring faster finishes and higher carcass weights.

· Use the new ICBF Mart Tracker to obtain the CBV of stock available in the mart on a given day.

· The CBV is available on mart boards for all genotyped animals in a HP herd.

· Where animals are traded privately, the purchaser should request the CBV’s from the seller. The CBV Profile is available for free through ICBF Login.

· Monitor& record animal performance regularly to make data-driven decisions and track the effectiveness of your changes.