Update on Beef Data and Genomics

THE Irish Cattle and Breeding Federation (ICBF) published new indices on September 12 and many farmers partaking in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme will have received their updated Herd Profile in the past month.

There are now 500,000 beef animals with genomic indexes available though animals born this year will not have genomic indices available until December.

Herds with predominantly Charolais stock will have their genomic reports published later. Indices will be updated three times per year in April, August and December.

There are some changes in the herd reports with the main one being that the last column will state if an animal has a genomic evaluation or if it’s DNA has been returned.

There will be an opportunity for herd owners to identify animals that have not had their DNA assessed and select these for DNA analysis and genomic evaluation next year through the use of this column.

Where an animal has been recorded as having its DNA returned its genomic evaluation will be available in a following report.

Some changes have occurred as regards cut-off points for star ratings.

The 4 star cut-off has dropped to €73 from €74 while the 5 star cut-off has decreased to €91 from €98.

As these star bands are based on 20 percentile sections of the population they will always change slightly as the national population changes.

The figures are calculated using animals born in last five years (2010-2015) with a new year added and the earliest year dropped every year in order to keep the figures up to date with population changes.

Nationally there are 24,000 herdsin the BDGP with 23,600 herd owners having completed their courses.

Greater than 90 per cent of 2016 tissue tags for DNA testing have been returned to ICBF.

The vast majority of herds in the BDGP have completed the Carbon Navigator. For those Herd owners that haven’t completed it the deadline for completion has been extended to 30 November.

Contact your adviser to complete – there is no fee for the Carbon Navigator.

It is now possible to check indices for female animals on the ICBF website once the herd owner is a paid up member.

Up to now this has only been possible for male animals or bulls. This may be useful for someone who is purchasing replacements as they can access the animal’s indices by putting the tag number through the search on the ICBF website.