Richard Starrett – January 2024

Using DBI to Produce a Good Calf

Calving Season

The 2024 calving season is in full swing here in Donegal with 64 out of 160 cows calved, and going to grass as soon as conditions allow. In looking at the calves on the ground, I can’t help but notice the quality of the first born beef calves that have come about from using the Dairy Beef Index (DBI). I have been using DBI on the farm for the past 5 years. It’s an important part of breeding, because it allows me to select bulls that have a short gestation and calving ease, which I need from a dairy production side. On the other hand, it also allows me to pick bulls that have high carcass growth and feed efficiency, leaving me with a high quality saleable calf that is likely to leave more profit for the beef farmer that buys them.

Using DBI

When selecting DBI straws I always look at the sub-indexes that make up the overall value. The DBI is made up of three sub-indexes, a calving sub-index, a beef sub-index, and a carbon sub-index. I use the ICBF Animal Search to look at the DBI indexes of the bulls in detail. I target a beef sub-index of €100+ while also aiming for a high figure on the carbon sub-index helping me to breed animals with a lower carbon footprint. Last year I used DBI on 68 cows and the average DBI of beef sires was €144. The target for farmers in the Signpost Programme is €150.

Selling Calves

I have two men that work with me here on the farm. One of them is also a beef farmer and buys 30 calves from me every year. He has preference for the beef calves from DBI bulls that I am using because of their ability to finish earlier. He can finish most of these cattle at 16-18 months, and so can avoid that extra summer at grass. It’s great to be able to follow the animals through and know that the benefit of the DBI is passed on to the beef farmer. Another beef farmer from Donegal buys the Friesian bulls from me every year. You know when you are selling a good number of calves and have repeat customers, something is working and DBI use has contributed to this.

Of course, breeding is only one part of it, nutrition and management of calves is very important. All calves are weighed at birth and, calf weights for 2024 range from 30-49 kg. All calves enter the calf shed and are fed colostrum for 4-5 days. They then transition on to an automatic calf feeder.

I am lucky, I have two good work men with me that play an important role especially at this time of year, and of course the whole family is involved which is also important. I’m looking forward to seeing the batch of beef sired calves in 2024. I have always focused on calf quality, whether the animal will produce milk or is for selling on, but no doubt since starting to use DBI, calf quality has improved.