Over 50% of all suckler calves on Irish farms are born between the months of January and April. And in the coming weeks, many suckler farmers will be selecting sires for the 2017 breeding season.

Sire selection, in light of the introduction of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP), has become increasingly important at farm level.

This is especially the case for the 24,000 farmers participating in the genomics scheme.

To be eligible for payment, these farmers need to adhere to the scheme’s requirements of having “high genetic animals” present on their holdings.

Stock bull requirements

Farmers using stock bulls need to be aware that the scheme requires participants to have at least one stock bull on the holding on June, 30, 2019 that has been genotyped four or five-star on either the Terminal or Replacement index (on a ‘within’ or ‘across’ breed basis).

Farmers have been advised to purchase such a bull at the next replacement date, to avoid compliance difficulties and the potential clawback of payments later in the programme.

Can I still rent a bull?

Under the scheme’s terms and conditions, farmers are allowed to use a rented bull as long as they have made the Department aware of their intention to use such a bull before June, 30, 2016.

Rented bulls must be either four or five-star on either the Terminal or Replacement index (on a ‘within’ and ‘across’ breed basis).

The Department says that all movements of bulls for breeding between holdings must be notified to the Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system.

Such leasing arrangements must be undertaken in compliance with animal health and movement legislation and, specifically, these bulls must have cleared a pre-movement test for TB and BVD.

AI sire choices

On farms where AI is used, at least 80% of the AI must be from four or five-star bulls on either the Terminal or Replacement index on a ‘within’ breed or ‘across’ breed basis.

AI, breeding,

Breeding your own replacement heifers

Farmers also need to be aware that matings carried out this year could have an impact on the number of four or five-star cows present in the herd in future years.

Under the scheme, 20% of the reference number of animals must be genotyped four or five-star on the replacement index (‘within’ or ‘across’ breeds) on October, 31, 2018.

heifer price

This requirement increases to 50% on October, 31, 2020. These animals must be at least 16 months of age and born in 2013 or later.

Also Read: How to breed a five star heifer?

In scenarios where farmers cannot breed this necessary requirement from within their own herds, it is possible to purchase heifers to comply with the scheme’s requirements.

These heifers need to be four or five-star on the replacement index (‘within’ breeds or ‘across’ breeds) at the time of purchase.

If they haven’t been genotyped at the time of purchase, they need to be genotyped and confirmed four or five-star on the replacement index.