Last week, Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon officially launched the ICBF Beef Quality Awards, which aim to recognise farmers who are using the Commercial Beef Value (CBV) to maximise profits on their farm.

The awards are proudly sponsored by ICBF, FBD Trust and six meat processors, namely ABP, Ashbourne, Dawn Meats, Foyle Food Group, Kepak and Liffey Meats.

Each of the meat processors involved in the awards, highlighted the benefits they see at processor level, of high genetic merit animals ie high CBV animals, and each were proud to champion their award winning suppliers as part of this initiative.

Speaking at the launch in ICBF’s Tully Research Station in Co Kildare, Minister Heydon said “I’m delighted to be involved in this initiative.

“It’s really important that my Department support these awards because we don’t have enough awards for the beef sector in general.

“Awards recognise the best in class and highlight the possibilities to other farmers.”

Michael Berkery, Chairman of FBD Trust commented on the importance to FBD in supporting these awards. “We are delighted to be supporting this initiative.

“These awards are a common good to improve the efficiency of the industry, to improve its competitiveness internationally, and particularly to recognise farmers and the industry that are making an effort through genetic improvement.“

ICBF Chairman, Michael Doran thanked the Department for their commitment and support for the research carried out in Tully. “At the heart of these awards is our National Genotyping Programme (NGP), which the Department and meat processors have been financially contributing.

“We now have genomic data on over one million beef and dairy calves contributing to the accuracy of our national breeding indices. The goal is to get every animal genotyped at birth, which will ensure the CBV is readily available on all animals.”

Research has been ongoing in the Tully Research Centre regarding the CBV and its value. Approximately 1,200 animals have been finished (a mixture of bulls, steers and heifers) of both low and high CBV in recent years, with Centre Manager, Stephen Conroy highlighting some of the results witnessed from the research to the stakeholders involved in the awards.

A multitude of data is being measured at the centre; from feed and water intake to greenhouse gas emissions to slaughter grade, weight and eating quality post slaughter.

“Tully is part of the Gene Ireland test programme; effectively what happens is that new high index bulls that are identified by the industry for which 500 doses of semen from each are sent out to farmers.

“That generates around 300 live calves. On farm data from these calves is captured and recorded on the ICBF database eg calving ease, birth weights, liveweights, linear scores, etc.

“Progeny from each of these test bulls are put on test in Tully to record hard to measure traits such as methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions.’’

Results from these progeny have shown, the differential of €283 between the top and bottom 20% ranked on CBV.

Commenting on the CBV and its role in the sector, Minister Heydon said, “Better genetics and having more access to information, is helping farmers to make a greater net margin in the end.

“We see the difference between the top 20% and bottom 20% on CBV is over €280 per animal.

“That is a phenomenal margin that can be made from that knowledge.

“And as we roll out the NGP, more of that information will be available on our mart boards and that allows farmers to make really informed decisions.”

Teagasc Beef systems researcher Nicky Byrne echoed the value of CBV. “What we have found through our research in Teagasc Grange on Angus-sired animals, that every €1 increase in CBV translates in an additional €1.77 in net profit,” he said.

“Where that extra profit came from was increased carcase weight, increased confirmation and achieving that specification at younger ages, combined with reduced feed intake.’’

Michael Doran, ICBF chairman, spoke at the launch of the importance of moving CBV from the “validation done through trial work through to adoption at farm level’’.

“This award will help us to reward farmers that are actively using CBV in their decision making. With the hope that these awards will highlight to others the benefits, of using the CBV to enhance profitability in their finishing systems.” he added.

In the Irish Farmers Journal over the next number of weeks, we will be profiling the award winners across the various sectors in both print and online, with next week seeing the winners of the Suckler Finisher Award announced as part of our five-week series.

Additional video content is also available at farmersjournal.ie.

Each meat processor in conjunction with one of their award winners, will facilitate a farm walk to showcase the success of the CBV on the ground. These walks will take place in 2026.