The results of animals genotyped by farmers participating in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and pedigree breeders will not be circulated until after the next €uro-Star evaluation run in August.

The decision for ICBF to delay the dissemination of genomic evaluations was taken at an industry meeting in Portlaoise on Monday.

It stems from technical challenges with genomics for female fertility, which in turn would mean any evaluations circulated in the April evaluation would not include this trait. Beef industry representatives at the meeting, including members from herdbooks and AI companies, reluctantly favoured delaying the roll-out as the best option to avoid confusion down the line, with all changes relating to the incorporation of genomics into the database made at the one time.

Farmer representatives, breeders and industry representatives voiced concern that in the region of 27,000 farmers in the Beef Data and Genomics Programmes will be forced into making breeding decisions without the results of genotype information in selecting maiden breeding heifers.

The April €uro-Star evaluation run will take place as normal without the inclusion of genomic information. ICBF says most animals will not change significantly when genomics are added to the evaluation in August. Its advice to farmers making breeding decisions on sires and heifers is to select the highest €uro-Star values to better protect themselves from any fluctuations. ICBF also wants to inform breeders that even when genomics is introduced, €uro-Star ratings for animals can still change as more data comes on stream.