Friday deadline to apply for extension to BDGP
THE Beef Data & Genomics Programme (BDGP) was first introduced in 2015 for suckler beef farmers with the primary objective of improving the maternal traits of the national suckler herd through increased data recording and selective breeding strategies.
The scheme brought about an increased focus on the star rating of bulls and cows with the aim of having more 4 and 5 star maternal cows and heifers in the herd. For participants of the scheme meeting the 20 and 50 per cent targets were key to ensuring the annual payment was made in full.
An announcement was made by the Department of Agriculture in December 2020 that funding in this years budget would allow for the BDGP to be extended for a rollover period of one year in 2021. This extension is open to those BDGP participants who have met the requirements for the full six-year duration of BDGP 2015 - 2020. Applicants who did not fulfil all the requirements or did not meet all the targets have not been offered an extension.
The Deadline for applying for the one year extension is 5pm this Friday 15th January. Participants can apply and have been applying for the extension in two ways:
Number one is by text message. A text message has been issued to all participants asking if you wish to extend your BDGP participation by one year, with the option to reply ‘DAFM Y’ (for Yes) or ‘DAFM N’ (for No). Some participants received this text message before Christmas however others did not and should have received a text message last week.
The second way to apply for the extension is on AgFood.ie: A BDGP screen is now available on agfood.ie where you may apply to extend your BDGP participation for 2021. You may apply yourself on agfood or an agent may do so on your behalf.
This is a one-year extension of BDGP with the majority of obligations remaining unchanged.
The terms and conditions remain the same as for the initial 6 years of the scheme with applicants still required to have beef breed animals born in the herd between 01 July 2020 and 30 June 2021. Applicants must still complete and submit data collection survey forms, both record keeping and event recording. An updated Carbon Navigator will have to be completed for 2021 and applicants will still have to submit genomic tissue sampling from 60% of the number of reference animals. There will be no change to the reference number for prior years and the payment rates will remain unchanged.
For the Female Replacement Strategy The number of heifers/ eligible suckler cows meeting the female replacement requirement on the holding on 31st October 2021 must be equivalent to 50% of the applicant’s reference animals.
The Stock Bull/AI Requirements
remain unchanged so for applicants using a stock bull, at least one stock bull on the holding on 30th June 2021 must have been a genotyped 4 or 5 star bull on either the Terminal or Replacement index (on a within or across breed basis) at the time of purchase, to be deemed eligible in your herd.
Any applicant renting or leasing bulls for the purpose of breeding must use bulls that are 4 or 5 star on the Terminal or Replacement index. Applicants availing of this option must inform DAFM of the use of such bulls, all movements of bulls for breeding between holdings must be notified on the AIM system.
For applicants using AI, at least 80% of the AI used on the participating holding must be from 4 or 5 star bulls on either the Terminal or Replacement index (on a within or across breed basis).
Applicants using both stock bulls and AI must be compliant in both requirements.
So for any BDGP participants who are still deciding if you will apply for the extension or not remember that this Friday, January 15, at 5pm is the deadline.
One reason why some may not consider extending is possibly due to a reduction in cow numbers and not being able to meet the 60% tissue sampling requirement.