A data‑driven, genetics‑focused approach delivering younger finishing ages, heavier carcasses and stronger profitability.
Along the banks of the River Slaney in Co. Wexford, Trevor Ashmore has developed one of Ireland’s most performance‑driven young‑bull finishing systems. A fourth‑generation farmer, Trevor now finishes more than 300 suckler‑bred young bulls annually for ABP. His system is built on home‑grown feed, rigorous health management and, increasingly, the value of the Commercial Beef Value (CBV).
In recognition of these results, Trevor won the ABP Suckler Farmer Finisher Award as part of the 2025 ICBF Beef Quality Awards. The CBV has become a practical, profit‑focused tool within his system—helping identify the cattle with the greatest potential for efficient finishing.
A Background Rooted in Genetics
Trevor’s background is steeped in pedigree breeding. His grandfather bred Herefords, his father Simmentals, and as a teenager, Trevor established a Belgian Blue herd, selling bulls into AI both in Ireland and overseas.
By 2017, however, he saw the next opportunity in commercial finishing. A trial purchase of 25 bulls became the foundation for a fully scaled enterprise. Investment in housing, slurry storage, and grain facilities followed, enabling Trevor to expand while producing over 85% of his feed on-farm.
CBV Driving Measurable Performance
With 88% of finished young bulls carrying a CBV, Trevor has a robust dataset to benchmark performance. The results are compelling:
- The top third of his suckler‑bred bulls averaged a CBV of €533.
- Finished at 15.1 months
- Averaged 452 kg carcass weight
- Graded U+
- The bottom third averaged a CBV of €394.
- Finished 0.6 months later
- Were 25 kg lighter
- A grade lower
The difference in carcass value alone was €246 per head, before even accounting for savings in feed efficiency and earlier age at finish.
Nutrition: The Engine of Performance
Nutrition underpins Trevor’s output. On the farm’s light soils he grows barley, wheat, oats and maize. Maize, grown without plastic, has become a cornerstone crop, both as a break crop in the rotation and as a high energy feed for finishing bulls.
All grain is treated, rolled and blended on farm, ensuring consistency in the diet. Bulls move through structured feeding phases, finishing on up to 12 kg of concentrate alongside maize silage. This precision feeding consistently delivers daily liveweight gains above 2 kg/day in top performers.
Health and Management with Discipline
Trevor applies the same structure to health as he does to nutrition. Newly purchased weanlings are rested, vaccinated and slowly introduced to higher‑energy diets. Across his six land parcels, Trevor also uses short outdoor settling periods when conditions allow to reduce stress and disease pressure.
Efficiency, Profitability and Sustainability
Sustainability is increasingly important in the beef sector. Efficient, fast finishing cattle not only improve profitability but also reduce emissions intensity per kilo of beef produced. High CBV cattle, by finishing younger and heavier, contribute directly to that outcome.
The lesson is straightforward. In a volatile market where input costs and weanling prices have surged, finishers cannot afford passengers. The CBV is reflected in slaughter age, carcass weight, grading and ultimately culminates financially. When multiplied at a herd level, the financial impact is transformative.
Looking ahead, Trevor is ambitious but prudent. Yet his strategy is firmly set: strong genetics, disciplined feeding and structured health management provide a clear roadmap for resilient, profitable beef finishing.
For finishers weighing up purchasing decisions this spring, the message from Co Wexford is compelling. The Commercial Beef Value is not simply another figure on a mart board. It is a proven predictor of carcass performance, efficiency and profit.
ICBF would like to congratulate Trevor on winning the 2025 Suckler Farmer Finisher Award for ABP.