The Beef Genomics Scheme (BGS) was launched by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney in Bandon on Monday at the ICBF headquarters. The overall budget for the scheme is €23m, which allows for a BGS payment on 575,000 calves.

There is momentum behind the scheme, which has been broadly welcomed. IFA Livestock chairman Henry Burns said it is essential that the application forms are sent out immediately and farmers receive their sampling kit as soon as possible, enabling them to sample most of the required animals ahead of going to grass.

Terms and conditions:

Participation in the scheme is voluntary. To be eligible, the applicant must also participate in the Beef Data Programme (BDP) 2014. It will be possible to apply by post or online and one form will allow you to apply for both schemes. Fifteen percent of the farmer’s herd and a natural service sire will be required to be genotyped as part of the 2014 scheme.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that in the case of a herd which has 10 suckler cows, the 15% will be rounded down so only one cow will be genotyped along with the natural service sire. In the case of a 20-cow herd, if farmers are using a natural service sire they will have to genotype three cows and their bull.

However, farmers who are using AI will have to genotype four cows.

Payments will be made in respect of a valid application submitted by a farmer. ICBF will select the most appropriate animals in each herd for genotyping and send this list to the herdowner. These animals must be genotyped using the tissue tag provided. Each of these tags will be numbered to correspond with the cow’s national ID tag number.

Samples must then be submitted using the pre-addressed envelopes and within the timeframe specified on the sampling kits. ICBF will contact each participant to confirm testing has been received and if it is fit for purpose.

Applicants must participate in the BDP scheme for 2014 and all calves must be tagged, including BVD tagging, within 20 days of birth and registered within 27 days of birth. All animals with a current positive or inconclusive BVD test result must be removed to the knackery and have the date of death recorded.

Payment is made on each eligible calf of €40. In the case of twins, both animals will be eligible for payment. To reduce administrative burden on farmers and ICBF, the charge of €30 per sampling kit will be deducted from the farmer’s payment.

The BDP – which must be adhered to in order to be eligible for BGS – will require sire details for each calf and the completion of the ICBF calving survey.

The survey looks for information relating to quality and docility of each calf; the milking ability and docility of each dam; details of any stock bulls used; the relevant animal events must be recorded, and the incidence of scour and pneumonia recorded for calves.

The payment under the BDP scheme will be for each eligible calf up to a limit of 50 calves; €20 for the first 30 calves and €10 for the next 20 born into the herd in 2014.