The top five-star cows in Teagasc’s maternal herd at Grange should yield an extra €110 in profit compared with the herd’s two-star cows, results released this week show.

The 120-cow suckler herd compares high-index cows and low-index cows from both suckler and dairy origin.

While the differences in the high and low dairy-bred cows were not significant, there was a significant difference in the performance of the high and low genetic merit cows bred from the suckler herd.

The average replacement index of the high genetic merit (five-star) suckler cows was €101, while the low genetic merit (two-star) cows were €36.

Initial results show that the high genetic merit cows have more live calves at weaning, greater milk yields, superior fertility and greater longevity.

Further analysis is being carried out on carcase data of the progeny from the cows and full lifetime longevity data.

“It’s encouraging to see the differences emerging between high and low cows,” said Teagasc’s Dr Noirín McHugh.

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