Four- and five-star cows are producing almost half of all weanlings selling for more than €1,000 in marts, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) has confirmed.
At a Kilkenny meeting on the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), Chris Daly of the ICBF refuted the “myth” that while milky and fertile, cows with high stars can’t pass conformation or muscling on to their calves.
Daly based the ICBF finding off analysis of weanling weight and price data from about 95% of Ireland’s marts last year.
“It removes that myth that the replacement index is going to do damage to the quality of our suckler herd. The highest percentages [of top priced weanlings] came from those four- and five-star animals,” he said.
Performance
Daly delved down into the ICBF's analysis of BEEP-S data on suckler cow milk and weaning performance.
"Five-star cows are consistently lighter with heavier calves," he told the Kilkenny farmer meeting.
The suckler herd is making genetic gains, says the ICBF.
In 2022, five-star cows had a weaning efficiency of 47%. Five star-cows weighed an average of 635kg and had a weanling with a 200-day weight of 297kg.
In comparison, one-star cows had a weaning effiency of 44%. One-star cows weighed an average of 654kg and had a weanling with a 200-day weight of 291kg.
While the weight differences are small, Daly insisted they contribute to improved herd performance.
'Right direction'
Daly used the analysis to outline what SCEP, the suckler scheme under the new CAP, is trying to achieve.
He said the suckler herd is "moving in the right direction" on genetic gain for better fertility, milk and carcase performance.
"The aim is to breed more environmentally and economically sustainable suckler animals," he said.
Four- and five-star cows are producing almost half of all weanlings selling for more than €1,000 in marts, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) has confirmed.
At a Kilkenny meeting on the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), Chris Daly of the ICBF refuted the “myth” that while milky and fertile, cows with high stars can’t pass conformation or muscling on to their calves.
Daly based the ICBF finding off analysis of weanling weight and price data from about 95% of Ireland’s marts last year.
“It removes that myth that the replacement index is going to do damage to the quality of our suckler herd. The highest percentages [of top priced weanlings] came from those four- and five-star animals,” he said.
Performance
Daly delved down into the ICBF's analysis of BEEP-S data on suckler cow milk and weaning performance.
"Five-star cows are consistently lighter with heavier calves," he told the Kilkenny farmer meeting.
The suckler herd is making genetic gains, says the ICBF.
In 2022, five-star cows had a weaning efficiency of 47%. Five star-cows weighed an average of 635kg and had a weanling with a 200-day weight of 297kg.
In comparison, one-star cows had a weaning effiency of 44%. One-star cows weighed an average of 654kg and had a weanling with a 200-day weight of 291kg.
While the weight differences are small, Daly insisted they contribute to improved herd performance.
'Right direction'
Daly used the analysis to outline what SCEP, the suckler scheme under the new CAP, is trying to achieve.
He said the suckler herd is "moving in the right direction" on genetic gain for better fertility, milk and carcase performance.
"The aim is to breed more environmentally and economically sustainable suckler animals," he said.
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