The ICBF Beef Quality Awards, are proudly sponsored by FBD Trust alongside the main meat processors ABP, Ashbourne, Dawn, Foyle, Kepak and Liffey Meats. The awards recognise farmers who are achieving outstanding results through genetics, performance recording and efficient beef production. Meet the six Suckler Farmer Finisher winners recognised at the 2026 ICBF Beef Quality Awards and learn more about the systems, breeding decisions and CBV performance behind their success.
Fitzpatrick’s Focus on Functional Cattle Earns Dawn Meats Suckler Farmer Finisher Award
L to R: Sean Coughlan (ICBF), Michael Berkery (FBD Trust), William Fitzpatrick (Suckler Farmer Finisher Winner), Matthew Murphy (Dawn Meats)
William Fitzpatrick, who farms alongside his two sons, Jim and Dan, was recognised as the Dawn Meats winner of the Suckler Farmer Finisher category at the ICBF Beef Quality Awards 2026. The award reflects years of focus on practical breeding decisions, herd health and continuous improvement, resulting in a suckler system that consistently delivers strong commercial performance from birth to slaughter.
Today, the family operates a spring-calving suckler-to-beef system while also sourcing approximately 100 Dairy-Beef calves annually, creating a diverse enterprise built around efficiency, functionality and profitable cattle performance.
Farming in a predominantly dairy region, the Fitzpatrick family has continued to develop a profitable suckler enterprise focused on producing cattle that perform where it matters most, at the factory gate.
Participating in both the National Genotyping Programme (NGP) and SCEP, the Fitzpatrick family have embraced technologies that provide greater insight into herd performance and breeding decisions. While genetics have become increasingly important, Jim, who manages the farm alongside his father William and brother Dan, believes the foundations of the system remain relatively simple.
“We try to keep things straightforward. Good cows, good grass, good health and making the right breeding decisions. That’s what we’ve always focused on.”
Building a Herd Around Functional Females
The Fitzpatrick herd is built around cows capable of producing a quality calf every year while remaining easy to manage and highly fertile.
High-quality stock bulls are used across the herd, with particular emphasis placed on calving ease, temperament and the Replacement Index. As Jim explains, “calving ease is one of the biggest things for us. We want cows that calve easily, rear a good calf and go back in calf again.”
The herd incorporates Stabiliser genetics, with replacement females bred from within the herd. Rather than chasing extremes, the objective is to create productive, durable cows that thrive within a commercial suckler system.
That approach is evident in the herd’s long-term performance. In 2025, the herd achieved a Replacement Index of €104, outperforming the national average of €93. First-calving females achieved an even stronger Replacement Index of €122, compared to a national average of €101.
Five Years of Consistent Improvement
One of the most impressive aspects of the Fitzpatrick herd is the consistency of performance achieved over time.
The herd has continued to improve key efficiency traits and remain ahead of national averages for a number of important performance indicators.
In 2025, the herd achieved 0.93 calves per cow per year, compared to the national average of 0.85. Meanwhile, 88% of replacement heifers calved between 22 and 26 months of age, a figure significantly ahead of the national average of 19%.
The herd’s average cow age has also increased steadily over the period, rising from 4.6 lactations in 2021 to 6 lactations in 2025, demonstrating the longevity and durability of the cow herd. As Jim puts it, “Every cow has to pull her weight. We’re always trying to improve the herd and leave ourselves with better cows each year.”
These figures highlight the long-term focus the family has placed on breeding productive, fertile and durable cows.
A Simple System Built on Quality Forage
The Fitzpatrick family operates a spring-calving system and aims to keep management as straightforward as possible.
Quality grass and silage form the foundation of the feeding programme, while concentrates are used strategically to support growth and finishing performance.
“Once spring calving is finished, it’s finished. It suits our system and allows us to focus on getting cattle performing well.”
Alongside the suckler-to-beef herd, approximately 100 Dairy-Beef calves are sourced annually and brought through to finish. These calves are purchased from trusted local suppliers, helping to maintain consistency while reducing health risks associated with introducing stock onto the farm.
Looking ahead, Jim believes Commercial Beef Value (CBV) will become an increasingly important tool when selecting calves, helping to identify animals with the greatest potential for carcass performance and profitability.
Herd Health Delivering Results
A strong preventative health programme has become a key component of the farm’s performance.
The herd follows a comprehensive vaccination programme, including protection against IBR and respiratory disease challenges.
Jim believes the benefits have been significant.
“Vaccination has been a game changer. We would have had more pneumonia issues years ago, but since introducing a proper health programme, we’ve seen a huge improvement in performance and overall herd health.”
Commercial Beef Value Delivering Results
The benefits of the Fitzpatrick family’s breeding strategy can be clearly seen in the performance of cattle finished from the farm. Higher-CBV animals consistently delivered heavier carcasses, stronger grades and improved profitability, highlighting the value of selecting cattle with superior genetic potential.
Among Beef heifers, animals in the top third for CBV produced carcasses that were 78kg heavier than those in the bottom third while also achieving carcass grades that were three full grades higher. These higher-CBV animals generated approximately €770 more in factory value per head, demonstrating the significant impact genetics can have on profitability.
Similar trends were evident among the young bulls. The top CBV third produced carcasses that were 66kg heavier and generated approximately €379 more in factory value per animal than those in the bottom third.
These results demonstrate the commercial value of genetic improvement and support the Fitzpatrick family’s recognition as Dawn Meats Suckler Farmer Finisher Award winners at the ICBF Beef Quality Awards 2026.
“CBV is something we’ll definitely be paying more attention to. It’s interesting to see the figures backing up what you’re seeing on the ground.”
Looking Ahead
While the award represents an important achievement, Jim’s focus remains firmly on the future.
The aim is to continue improving herd quality, increasing performance wherever possible and maintaining a simple, efficient suckler system built around productive cows and profitable cattle.
For the Fitzpatrick family, the Dawn Meats Suckler Farmer Finisher Award is recognition of a system built on consistency rather than complexity. Through strong breeding decisions, excellent herd health and a commitment to continual improvement, they have developed a herd capable of delivering results both in the yard and at the factory gate. The performance achieved across the herd demonstrates how long-term investment in genetics, herd health and management continues to pay dividends.
Compact Calving, Quality Grass and Strong Genetics: Harry Mellody‘s Award-Winning Suckler-to-Beef System
L to R: Sean Coughlan (ICBF), Michael Berkery (FBD Trust), Harry Mellody (Suckler Farmer Finisher Winner), Frank Clarke (Kepak)
Harry Mellody from Menlough, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway was recognised as the Kepak supplier winner of the Suckler Farmer Finisher Award at the Beef Awards 2026, highlighting the consistent performance achieved within his suckler-to-beef enterprise. Built on compact calving, quality grassland management and a focus on producing efficient, profitable cattle, Harry’s system demonstrates how good management and informed breeding decisions can deliver results from birth to finishing.
A full-time farmer, Harry inherited the farm from his father in 2001 and today farms approximately 200 acres of owned land. The system is centred around approximately 70 suckler cows, with all progenies retained and finished on the farm. Limousin and Charolais bloodlines feature prominently throughout the herd, with Charolais sires used to maximise growth, carcass weight and finishing performance. Harry has also been participating in the National Genotyping Programme (NGP) since 2024, helping to strengthen the genetic information available within his herd and providing valuable insights into animal performance and genetic potential.
A Fully Integrated Suckler-to-Beef System
Harry’s aim is to produce cattle efficiently and consistently. Heifers are typically finished at 22 to 23 months of age, while young bulls are finished at under 16 months. In addition to finishing his own stock, Harry also purchases approximately 25 Angus heifers each year and brings them through to finishing. By taking cattle right through from breeding to finishing, and supplementing the system with carefully selected purchased animals, Harry can see first-hand the impact that genetics, management and performance recording have on final results.
Grass at the Heart of the System
Like many successful suckler enterprises, grass is a key driver of performance on the farm. Harry describes his farm as relatively dry, allowing cattle to get out to grass early in the spring, often from mid-February onwards when conditions allow.
Quality grazed grass and silage remain the foundation of the feeding programme. During winter, cattle are housed on a combination of slats and straw bedding and are fed silage alongside concentrates. Finishing bulls receive ad-lib concentrates with straw to support high levels of performance.
Harry believes that high-quality grass is one of the most important factors in producing strong-performing continental cattle. “Feeding good quality grass is essential.”
Compact Calving Drives Herd Performance
One of the standout features of Harry’s system is the emphasis placed on maintaining a tight calving pattern. He operates a strict culling policy on late-calving cows and believes compact calving is fundamental to the efficiency of the herd.
The farm’s calving figures highlight the success of this approach:
The herd began calving on 26 January 2026, with half of all cows calved by 13 February, helping to create a very uniform batch of calves for management and finishing purposes.
Harry explains: “We try and keep a tight calving pattern. We try and cull anything that’s late, regardless of how good it is.”
Terminal Genetics and Buying Replacements
Harry operates a terminal breeding system using Charolais stock bulls. Because of the strong terminal focus, replacement females are generally purchased as in-calf heifers rather than bred within the herd.
The Charolais bulls are then used on cows that are not required to produce replacements, allowing Harry to maximise carcass and growth potential from the animals destined for finishing.
Using CBV to Select Better Cattle
Commercial Beef Value (CBV) has become an important tool for Harry when sourcing animals. He believes the information provides a useful indication of future performance and that it will become increasingly important as both suckler and dairy-beef systems continue to evolve.
“I think CBV is going to become even more important in calf sourcing. It has to be, because it gives an indication of an animal’s future potential. In some regard, you’re predicting their future.”
When asked whether higher CBV animals generally deliver better results on farm, Harry’s answer was straightforward: “Yes, of course.”
His finishing results suggest there is good reason for that confidence.
CBV Delivering Results at Finishing
Results from Harry’s 2025 Annual Finishing Report: CBV showed a clear link between higher CBV and improved finishing performance, with the top-performing animals delivering heavier carcasses and stronger factory returns.
Among the heifers, animals in the top third for CBV averaged a CBV of €517 compared to €383 for the bottom third. This translated into heavier carcasses, averaging 352kg compared to 312kg, while delivering almost €300 extra in factory value per animal.
A similar trend was evident among the young bulls. The top third for CBV averaged €532 compared to €401 for the bottom third and produced carcasses averaging 408kg compared to 340kg. These higher-CBV bulls generated over €570 more in factory value per head, highlighting the significant impact genetics can have on finishing performance.
Perhaps most notably, the higher-CBV bulls achieved these results at virtually the same finishing age as the lower-CBV group, producing heavier carcasses and greater factory returns without requiring additional days to finish. This demonstrates the value of selecting animals with stronger genetic potential from the outset.
Strong Focus on Herd Health
Maintaining animal health is another important aspect of the system. The herd follows a preventative vaccination programme, with cows vaccinated for Rotavec and young animals receiving routine vaccinations, including protection against blackleg. Finishing bulls are also vaccinated against pneumonia.
Thanks to a strong preventative health programme, Harry reports that the farm experiences very few major health issues.
The herd’s recording standards are equally impressive, with almost all births recorded with a known sire and calving survey data recorded for every birth.
Looking Ahead
While Harry is generally satisfied with the current system, he continues to focus on fine-tuning herd performance and improving stock quality where possible. Like many farmers, rising input costs and market volatility remain key concerns.
Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic about the future and believes technologies such as CBV, combined with good management, will continue to help farmers make more informed breeding and purchasing decisions.
For Harry, success comes back to a few core principles: maintaining a compact calving pattern, using strong terminal genetics, producing quality grass and making decisions based on good information. The performance of his herd demonstrates the value of that approach and helps explain why he was recognised as Kepak’s Suckler Farmer Finisher Award winner.