Understanding Beef Data Genomics

PROGRAMME WAS FOUNDED FOR SUCKLER FARMS TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF NATIONAL BEEF HERD

THE BEEF Data and Genomics Programme was introduced in 2015 for suckler beef farmers.

Many farmers are now in their sixth year of the programme, and this year farmers have to meet another very important target, which is that they must have 50 per cent of their original reference number of breeding females evaluated as either four or five stars for the Replacement Index on October 31, 2020.

The objectives of the BDGP are to lower the intensity of GHG emissions by improving the quality and efficiency of the national beef herd, and to improve the genetic merit of the national beef herd through the collection of data and genotypes of selected animals which will allow for the application of genomic selection in the beef herd.

While three stars is what you need to spin the wheel on the TV game-show Winning Streak, under the BDGP programme, however, the target is four or five stars.

Similarly, this year farmers need to complete all the annual requirements including data collection and recording; tissue sampling and genotyping; and carbon navigator completion.

BDGP eligibility reports were sent to all participating farms in April outlining their position in terms of numbers of eligible females.

Herds were categorised as either a compliant herd, borderline herd or a non-compliant herd.

Compliant and borderline herds should be okay to meet their targets for October. However if your herd was categorised as non compliant, you will need to take action to ensure you are not penalised later this year.

Basically the penalty for not having 50 per cent four- or five-star females in the herd on October 31 is 140 per cent of your annual BDGP payment.

If you think you are going to be short on numbers for October, what options do you have at this stage?

First thing to do is to review the most up to date eligibility report from the ICBF.

Check to see are there any ungenotyped four/five-star females that could be sampled outside of BDGP. If there are some available, farmers can order hair cards for €22 per animal.

Don’t forget the age restrictions – animals have to be born on or before June 30, 2019, to be old enough.

Also watch any cows born pre-2013 that were bought after June 5, 2015.

Female tab in eligibility profile will highlight these pre-2013 born cows.

An interesting change to the scheme is that ,under the original BDGP rules, females had to be four or five-star on their first evaluation to qualify.

This rule has been changed slightly so that females originally geno-typed one to three stars and have subsequently gone up to a four- or five-star in subsequent evaluations now qualify.

DAFM has made a concession on these animals whereby if they hit at least four stars on any of the March, May, July or September evaluations of 2020, then they will be deemed eligible.

Failing to meet the numbers from within your own herd, you may look at purchasing some eligible females.

Two very important dates for the scheme are September 22 and the July 8, 2020.

July 8 is the last date by which samples can be submitted to the labs for genotyping for both females and males, and September 22 will be the last evaluation report date before the October 31 2020 deadline.

Females must appear on this report as four or five star to qualify.

By reviewing your eligibility reports, now there is still plenty time left for farmers who may be short on stars to ensure that they meet the October 31 deadline.