€23m beef genomics scheme launched

SCHEMES worth €40m to beef farmers over the next 11 months were launched this week.

The package included a €23m genomics programme, €10m for the Beef Data programme, €5m for the Beef Technology Adoption programme (BTAP) and €2m in residual payments under the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme.

This will be the first year of the genomics scheme, with a payment of €40 per calf for farmers who get DNA samples from a selection of their ani- mals. However, participants will be required to cull any BVD positive calf from their herds within seven weeks of the animal testing positive to qualify for the scheme.

This requirement i s an attempt to reduce the large numbers of PI calves that were retained on farms during the first year of the BVD scheme's operation.

In addition, farmers must also participate in the discussion groups and information days that constitute the BTAP and the Beef Data programme in order to draw down the full payment available for their calves. The latter scheme will payout an additional €20 per calf.

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“Genomics has helped transform Irish dairy cattle breeding and deliver tangible gains for farmers,” Minister Simon Coveney said at the launch at the ICBF offices in Bandon yesterday.

“Introducing it for the suckler sector will help to accelerate the kind of genetic improvement that will increase profitability for suckler farmers.

“The contribution that the ICBF has made to improved breeding over the last few years is the envy of many of our international competitors,” he added.

Genomic scheme application forms will go out to 70,000 beef farmers over the coming weeks, with a target of funding payments on approximately 550,000 calves in 2014.

It will require farmers to take DNA samples from 15pc of the females in their herd, which will be specified by ICBF, along with the stock bull. These samples are then to be sent to a laboratory for genotyping.