As calving kicks off on dairy farms, Friesian bull calves are making up to €80/head in marts this week.
Angus-cross heifers are averaging at €180/head, with Hereford-cross heifers making on average €200/head.
With calf sales under way, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) launched its dairy beef index (DBI). The new index ranks bulls on their suitability for use on the dairy herd.
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It will identify easy-calving and short-gestation beef bulls with high carcase merit and also aims to make offspring more saleable as calves, and more profitable at slaughter.
Meanwhile, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association beef chair Edmund Graham has urged beef farmers to cease the practice of rearing dairy-bred calves.
“Taking on calves from Jersey and Kiwi-cross herds make no financial sense whatsoever. It is a futile practice that will never turn a profit for a beef farmer,” he said.
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As calving kicks off on dairy farms, Friesian bull calves are making up to €80/head in marts this week.
Angus-cross heifers are averaging at €180/head, with Hereford-cross heifers making on average €200/head.
With calf sales under way, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) launched its dairy beef index (DBI). The new index ranks bulls on their suitability for use on the dairy herd.
It will identify easy-calving and short-gestation beef bulls with high carcase merit and also aims to make offspring more saleable as calves, and more profitable at slaughter.
Meanwhile, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association beef chair Edmund Graham has urged beef farmers to cease the practice of rearing dairy-bred calves.
“Taking on calves from Jersey and Kiwi-cross herds make no financial sense whatsoever. It is a futile practice that will never turn a profit for a beef farmer,” he said.
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