When farmers are enquiring about dairy calf to beef systems, the most common comment is that they do not know what kind of finished animal they will end up with.

The latest batch of cattle drafted for slaughter on the Irish Farmers Journal Thrive demonstration farm included a mix of breeds from Angus and Hereford to Limousin and Belgian Blue.

These cattle were just over 20 months of age at slaughter and had only been housed for around three weeks prior to slaughter.

Lifetime performance of these cattle was excellent, as it needs to be if they are to be fit for slaughter at the end of the second grazing season.

There are still 62 bullocks and heifers on farm to be drafted for slaughter in the coming weeks. Get a full update on the farm in print in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal.

In pictures

This Hereford heifer graded O= 3+ with a 247kg carcase weight and made €938.

This Belgian Blue heifer graded R+ 3- with a 291kg carcase weight making €1,139.

This Limousin bullock graded R= 3- with a 322kg carcase weight. He came into €1,223.

This Angus bullock graded O= 3+ with a 333kg carcase weight and made €1,239.

This Hereford bullock graded R- 3+ with a 302kg carcase weight. He came into €1,186.

This Limousin bullock graded R= 2= with a 330kg carcase weight making €1,135.

This Hereford bullock graded O+ 3+ with a 319kg carcase weight and made €1,207.

This Limousin bullock graded R- 3+ with a 330kg carcase weight making €1,252.

This Angus bullock graded O+ 3- with a carcase weight of 312kg and made €1,183.

This Belgian Blue bullock graded R= 2+ at a carcase weight of 334kg and made €1,269.