A “simplification” of requirements under the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP), in relation to the eligibility of stock bulls, has been announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed.

Participants in the programme using a stock bull are required to have at least one bull on their holding on June 30, that was a minimum of 12 months old and was rated at four or five stars on the replacement and/or terminal index.

This must be within and/or across breeds on the first genomic evaluation or the genomic evaluation at the time of purchase.

Commenting on the simplification update, Minister Creed said: “I am pleased to announce this simplification of the stock bull requirement under the BDGP.

“Officials from my department have been working closely with their counterparts in the ICBF on this issue and I feel this pragmatic approach to what is a key requirement should lead to as many participants as possible receiving their full payment in 2019 under this important programme.”

Concluding, the minister said: “They have identified a number of herds that are currently not meeting this requirement and will be contacting them in the coming days to advise them of their obligations under the programme.”