Dairy-beef steers with a higher commercial beef value (CBV) are delivering carcase weights almost 25kg heavier than those with the lowest rank of CBV and they are also achieving those weights at a younger age.

This is according to analysis of data by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) on the close to 66,000 Angus- and Hereford-cross steers from the dairy herd that were slaughtered from July to September of this year.

Over 41,000 were Angus-cross steers and those with a five-star ranking on CBV had an average kill-out of 354kg at 28.1 months of age.

Those with a one-star ranking averaged 330kg for carcase weight, at 29.1 months.

At the average prices over this period, the 24kg extra carcase of the five-star animals was returning €178/head more than the one-star animals.

The average CBV for five-star animals was €193 while it was €74 for those with one star.

Hereford steers

Based on the information from 24,456 animals, there was a similar result from Hereford-cross steers.

At an average weight of 358kg, five-star animals weighed 23kg more than those with one star for CBV. Finished at 28.8 months, these animals were sold over three weeks earlier than those with a lower CBV index and earned €171/head more on their price.

Five-star animals of both cattle breeds also averaged one confirmation score higher at O+3+ compared to O=3+ for one-star animals.