Award‑winning finisher Ryan McElhinney shows how genetics, genotyping and tight management can turn dairy‑bred calves into consistent, high‑value cattle.
Ryan McElhinney operates a 160-cow spring calving herd near Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. His farm is a strong example of what becomes possible when dairy breeding decisions are guided by data rather than assumptions, and when the same discipline applied to milk solids and fertility is carried right through to dairy‑beef progeny and finishing performance.
Ryan’s strong performance and commitment to continuous improvement earned him the Dairy Farmer Finisher Award for Foyle as part of the ICBF Beef Quality Awards.
A High‑Efficiency Spring‑Calving System
Ryan operates a tightly run spring‑calving system with impressive reproductive performance:
- 364‑day calving interval
- 89% six‑week calving rate
- 100% heifer calving between 22–26 months
This level of compactness delivers major dairy advantages, but also creates a uniform, early‑season crop of calves. These calves can then be managed in even batches through rearing, housing and finishing—giving Ryan better animal flow and more predictable performance year after year. Heifer efficiency is also driving strong genetic gain, placing the herd well ahead of national averages.
Genetics at the Core of the System
The strength of the herd’s performance is clearly reflected in its dairy‑beef metrics. Ryan’s herd achieved a Dairy‑Beef Quality Score (DBQS) of 81%, almost double the national average of 41%. This places him among the most consistent and reliable dairy‑beef producers in the country.
Every calf born on the farm is genotyped, ensuring:
- Accurate sire verification
- Greater reliability of CBV figures
- Strong buyer confidence in the genetic signal behind each calf
This approach has helped Ryan match breeding decisions to market requirements with exceptional precision.
CBV That Turns Into Real‑World Value
Across all calves born, the herd recorded an average CBV of €95, compared with the national average of €77. More importantly:
- Dairy‑beef calves averaged €145 CBV
- National average for dairy‑beef calves: €99
These numbers translate directly into the traits that matter at processing—carcass weight, age at slaughter, conformation and fat score.
A clear example of CBV value comes from a group of dairy‑bred young bulls:
- Top CBV third (CBV €60):
Finished at 16.3 months, 285kg carcass - Bottom CBV third (CBV –€37):
Finished at 17.5 months, 273kg carcass
The difference in factory value was €154/head—a powerful demonstration of how CBV predicts profit.
Early‑Life Management That Protects Genetic Potential
Excellent calf‑rearing practices underpin the herd’s finishing performance. Mortality is extremely low thanks to:
- Robust colostrum management
- Timely intervention when required
- Vaccination
- A high‑quality rearing system
These protocols ensure that the genetic potential signalled by CBV isn’t compromised by early setbacks, laying the foundation for strong lifelong performance.
Environmental Efficiency Built In
Efficiency on the McElhinney farm is reflected not only in performance but also in environmental metrics. Dairy‑beef animals recorded:
- GHG output of 2,877kg CO₂e per head, well below the national average of 4,510
- For beef x dairy bulls:
9.31kg CO₂e/kg carcass, showing strong emissions efficiency
These results highlight how genetics, health and management align to reduce emissions intensity—an increasingly important requirement for processors, retailers and export markets.
Meeting Processor Requirements Consistently
Every non‑replacement calf born on the farm is finished, with cattle supplied to Foyle, where consistency and specification compliance are essential. The combination of:
- Strong breeding decisions
- Full‑herd genotyping
- Tight rearing and health management
- Data‑driven finishing
gives Ryan’s cattle a highly predictable performance profile that aligns with processor needs.
A Model for Modern Dairy‑Beef Systems
Ryan McElhinney’s system embodies what CBV is designed to support: dairy‑bred cattle with verifiable beef merit, capable of achieving strong carcass weights at young ages while meeting factory specifications.
For dairy farmers, his results show how targeted breeding and genotyping can turn dairy‑beef calves into a reliable, profitable revenue stream.
For finishers, they demonstrate the value and predictability that come from calves bred, reared and finished within a structured, data‑led framework.
ICBF would like to congratulate Ryan on winning the 2025 Dairy Farmer Farmer Finisher Award for Foyle Food Group.
