The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society has launched a Dairy Beef Index, a breeding tool to help dairy farmers choose Angus genetics that suit the dairy cow while producing a good beef calf. It was unveiled at UK Dairy Day.

The index combines profit-related traits in one figure: calving ease, gestation length, growth measures such as 200- and 400-day weights, and carcass traits. Values are expressed as expected profit in pounds sterling per calf, relative to the Aberdeen-Angus genetic baseline; a bull with an index of £120 would be expected to return £50 more per calf than one at £70.

Chief executive Robert Gilchrist said the index fits the aims of the GB Calf Strategy 2025-2030, which the society has signed, that every calf be reared with care, purpose and value. "Selecting genetics that support easy calving and efficient dairy cow performance, while also producing a calf with strong growth and carcass potential, can help support a more sustainable system," he said.

The index is available for all bulls registered with the society through its website.

Photo: Greg Salk / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Source: Farmers Weekly