The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) has today (Tuesday, March 19) confirmed that the turnaround time for calf passports issued as part of the National Genotyping Programme (NGP) has increased by one day.
According to the ICBF 400,807 passports have been issued for NGP calves to date.
It has detailed that by week 12, 45,000 samples were received in the lab and more than 45,000 samples were processed.
The ICBF said today: “As we head toward the final leg of the 2024 spring calving season, farmers are sending off samples less regularly than at the peak.
“This has resulted in an increase of 2.1 days from birth to the sample being received in the lab.
“Subsequently, the average turnaround time from birth to passport being issued has increased by one day.”
National Genotyping Programme
In its latest update the ICBF said today that last week 44,887 calf samples were received into the lab and 45,498 calf samples were processed in the lab.
It also detailed that:
- The average time from birth to sample being received in the lab was 8.9 days;
- The average time a sample spent in the lab last week was 3.7 days;
- The average turnaround time from birth to passport being issued was 13.1 days.
The first year of the NGP programme involved genotyping all cows and replacement females in participating herds.
In years two to five – 2024 to 2027 – requires participants to genotype all calves born on the farm each year.
The programme, administered by ICBF, is based on a cost-sharing model between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the beef and dairy industry and participating farmers.
The estimated total cost of the 5-year programme is €83 million.
The total funding allocation for year one (2023) was €23 million which was fully exchequer funded through the Brexit Adjustment Reserve.
There is a funding estimate of €15 million for each of the subsequent years and this will be funded based on the cost sharing model.
According to ICBF there have been a total 430,509 calf samples received in the lab to date.
Overall 415,301 calf samples have been genotyped to date which has resulted in 400,807 passports being issued for NGP calves.