Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue has today (Tuesday, March 12) announced additional flexibility for farmers in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP).
Bulls genotyped as 4- or 5-star on the September 2023 Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) evaluation, which no longer have that status following the index changes made in November, will now be considered eligible in the context of action 1 in SCEP (Eligible Bull).
Action 1 of SCEP requires at least 80% of the calves are sired by a 4- or 5-star bull in years 1 or 2 of the programme, increasing to 85% in years 3 and 4 and then ultimately 90% by the end of the programme.
The minister has also confirmed that females genotyped 4- or 5- star on the September 2023 ICBF evaluation and which subsequently fell in the revised evaluation will be considered SCEP eligible under action 2 (female replacement strategy).
This requires 65% of a farmer’s yearly reference number to be genotyped 4- or 5-star females on the replacement index on October 31, 2025, rising to 75% on October 31, 2027.
The minister said that these latest flexibilities will allow a farmer to buy a SCEP eligible animal from a non-SCEP herd and assist them in meeting actions 1 or 2 of the scheme.
SCEP
Euro-Star indexes quantify the genetic component of an animal’s performance across all traits of importance for Irish suckler farmers. The index is designed to help beef farmers select more profitable breeding animals.
In November, ICBF introduced updates to the terminal and replacement beef indexes which has led to controversy in the beef sector.
In January, Minister McConalogue outlined initial changes to SCEP after concerns were raised about the impact of the changes by farm organisations and breed societies.
The changes provided that female calves would be considered “SCEP eligible” if, on the September 2023 evaluations, the dam was 3-, 4- or 5-star and the sire 4- or 5-star rated on the replacement index, even if the female calf was not subsequently evaluated as 4- or 5-star in its own right.
There has been no change in the eligibility of male calves, these will be assigned their star rating based on the prevailing indexes if or when they are genotyped.
Farmers
Minister McConalogue said that farmers should continue to consider the most appropriate breeding strategies for their herd and adjust them accordingly taking account of the most up to date scientific information.
“The work carried out by farmers to improve the genetic merit of the national herd has made our suckler herd world leading.
“I remain fully committed to supporting suckler farmers and improving the profitability and sustainability of their herds through better breeding,” he said.
“I understand that recent index changes approved by the ICBF board, which includes all the major stakeholders, have caused concern among some farmers.
“I have listened carefully to the feedback from stakeholders. I am satisfied that the flexibility I have announced today, addresses concerns about compliance with SCEP, without undermining the objectives of the scheme,” the minister added.
IFA
The president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Francie Gorman said that today’s announcement addresses the issues for farmers with SCEP eligibility arising from the new ICBF indices.
“This latest announcement now provides this for suckler farmers and pedigree breeders in a pragmatic way.
“This now clears the way and creates the space for the work of the ICBF Stakeholder Forum to focus on the agreed actions of the last meeting and deliver indices that have the confidence and, critically, the trust of all farmers, including cow weights, carbon and the development of a weanling index,” he said.
IFA Livestock chair Declan Hanrahan said that agreement has been reached on the inclusion of a minimum weight for cows in the index.
The forum will also review the carbon piece and commencement of work by Teagasc on assessing the key factors and costings on weanling producing farms with the objective of developing a weanling index that reflects this production system.
Hanrahan said that phasing out of the star ratings is also under consideration.