On 8th September 2026, SRG joined farmers to travel to Co. Kildare for the ICBF Tully Progeny Test Centre Open Day. The visit gave farmers an opportunity to learn how genetic information can support more informed and profitable breeding and purchasing decisions.
Farmers also gained insight into progeny testing and the importance of collecting accurate performance data to support these decisions. At Tully, genetic predictions can be tested and validated against actual cattle performance in a controlled environment. One key area of interest was Commercial Beef Value (CBV), a genetic decision-support tool identifying cattle with potential for efficient and profitable beef production.
Impact of Commercial Beef Value (CBV)
By comparing animals with different genetic potential and measuring their performance through to slaughter, researchers can assess how differences in CBV translate into real-world outcomes including carcass value, feed costs and overall profitability.
Results presented through the research, highlights the potential financial benefits of selecting animals with higher CBV.
In suckler-beef cattle, comparing animals in the top 20% for CBV with those in the bottom 20% showed:
- €287 additional carcass revenue per animal
- €11 saving in feed costs over a 100-day finishing period
- €298 difference in total profit per animal
In dairy-beef cattle, comparing animals in the top 20% for CBV with those in the bottom 20% showed:
- €87 additional carcass revenue per animal
- €21 saving in feed costs over a 100-day finishing period
- €108 difference in total profit per animal
For a typical dairy-beef system purchasing and finishing 50 calves, selecting calves in the top 20% for CBV rather than the bottom 20% could result in an estimated €5,283 additional margin. CBV benefit is based on making a more informed calf-purchasing decision when the animals are just 2-4 weeks old. This highlights the potential of genetic information to influence profitability of an animal through the beef production system.
What’s Next?
The Tully Open Day gave farmers a valuable insight into the work behind the Bovine Genetics Project and how tools such as CBV could support more informed breeding and purchasing decisions, helping farmers identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability within their herds.
Find out more about the Bovine Genetics Project Genotyping Scheme and how it could support your herd here, or get in touch with the SRG team on 02820462280 or email [email protected].
SRG would like to thank ICBF for hosting the Open Day, Discover CAFRE for helping organise the buses, and all the farmers who travelled and joined us on the day.
