Commercial Beef Value (CBV)

The CBV is a tool that gives farmers an insight into the genetic value of animals destined for beef production. It comprises traits that are of economic importance to a non-breeding (drystock) farmer, such as carcass weight, conformation and feed intake.

CBV is expressed as a €uro value like the EBI and Euro-Star Indexes. The higher the €uro value, the higher the animals genetic merit for the traits included. Having the CBV available will allow you to make more informed decisions when purchasing animals’.

Struggling to make the right decision?

Knowing which calf is likely to exhibit good beefing qualities over their lifetime can be difficult when purchasing them at three to four weeks of age.

The Solution is the CBV

The CBV gives farmers an insight into the genetic merit of a calf and will help to put a more accurate value on it.

Why is it important to have the CBV to hand when purchasing?

There can be massive variation in the beef merit of calves even within breeds. ICBF research has shown that calves bred from higher genetic merit beef bulls have higher carcass weights, better conformation and are more likely to meet factory specifications than calves bred from lower genetic merit beef bulls.

The tables below highlight the importance of having the CBV to hand when purchasing animals. The data in both tables is based on animals that were finished in 2023, broken down by their CBV.

Where can I find the CBV?

  • Only genotyped animals will have a CBV available on mart boards.
  • Where purchasing animals privately, the seller can access the CBV information through their HerdPlus accounts.
  • In order for a CBV to generate, the calf must have a recorded sire.
  • Buying calves without a sire means you are taking a gamble on their genetic merit potential.

Many farmers who buy calves bred from the dairy herd for beef production prefer buying calves at the mart, while other farmers buy their calves directly off the farm. Some farmers prefer to buy their calves at the mart for various reasons, but it can can be difficult to access the future beef potential of a calf based solely on visual inspection at the mart. The Commercial Beef Value (CBV) aims to assist farmers in accessing the genetic beef merit of a calf.

William Larkin and his nephew Cian are dairy farming in partnership near Templeglantine, Co. Limerick and are producing high Commercial Beef Value (CBV) calves.

James O’Sullivan is a dairy calf to beef farmer in west Cork farming near the villages of Leap and Unionhall. His system involves buying-in approximately 90 Angus calves at two-to-three-weeks of age with the aim of finishing as many of these off grass before the second winter at 18-20-months-of-age.

For more information on the Commercial Beef Value, please contact the HerdPlus office on 023-8820452 or email [email protected]