Will the applicant be required to test 60% of the cows/calves each year for the six years of the scheme?

The applicant will be required to genotype a set number of animals each year. The number of animals to be genotyped each year will be equal to 60% of the number of calved suckler cows that they had on their holding in 2014 – known as the applicant’s reference animals. The number of reference animals will be advised to applicants upon acceptance into the scheme. For example, an applicant with 15 reference animals in 2014 must have sufficient animals to genotype nine cows/heifers/calves/stock bulls, in each year of the programme, without repetition.

Last year, it cost €30/genomic sample test – what does the Department expect the cost will be to the farmer in this programme?

The cost of the genotyping will be determined by a public tendering process undertaken by the ICBF in relation to laboratory analysis, tissue tags and the DNA chip. It is expected that this will result in a reduced sampling/genotype cost compared to the 2014 scheme.

Can a new entrant, starting farming after 2015, join the programme?

The programme is designed as a six-year commitment with applications starting in 2015. Should the 2015 tranche be undersubscribed, then the Department will consider re-opening the scheme in 2016.

Are there sufficient numbers of four- and five-star sires and heifers in the country to meet the increased demand from farmers as a result of the scheme?

The first step in modifying breeding selection in Ireland is through data collection and genotyping. However, if the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is to result in real change, then there must be a requirement to introduce animals identified as having the best maternal breeding traits.

Analysis conducted during the development of this scheme indicated that sufficient animals would be available. In addition, it must be remembered that these requirements will be phased in over a number of years.

Of course, this is still a challenging element of the scheme which will require additional efforts by all stakeholders to improve awareness of, and access to, the animals required.

Is the Department satisfied that the replacement Index is working correctly?

The replacement index is an ever-changing and evolving system for rating animals. It is clear that the trends of recent years have been to focus on terminal traits which, in turn, have led to a corresponding decline in maternal traits. The BDGP aims to reverse this trend and develop a multi-trait breeding strategy which should bring about a more rounded beef herd with significant genetic gain. Furthermore, the additional data and genotyping to be undertaken under the scheme should enhance the robustness of the indices being used.

Is the Department confident that selecting four- or five-star replacement heifers will improve the suckler herd?

There is a considerable body of research that shows the additional benefits from four- and five-star replacement heifers compared with those with a lower rating. For example, recent work undertaken by ICBF and Teagasc has indicated that increasing the average herd replacement index by €30 would increase calves/cows/year from 0.80 to 0.83. Across all herds involved in the programme, this equates to an increase in profitability of some €35m. Increasing the number of calves per cow is vital to improve profitability and carbon efficiency on suckler farms. There is a range of other maternal efficiency traits which can also be improved upon, eg age at first calving, calving interval and milk yield.

Is the Department aware that selecting four- and five-star heifers on the replacement index alone can result in the selection of heifers with extremes of carcase traits, which may not be suitable for breeding, and those with the extremes of milk traits from a dairy origin with negative carcase traits, which may not be preferred for breeding?

The Department is aware that the replacement index is under review. This review is due to be completed in May 2015, with the outcomes then applied in the August 2015 evaluations, in line with the rollout of the scheme.

Does the Department accept that a small suckler farmer using a stock bull will have difficulty fulfilling requirement four of the replacement strategy without sourcing heifers from outside the herd?

Ireland has a diverse suckler herd and farmers approach the process of heifer replacements in different ways. This will continue under the scheme, whether that is through breeding replacements or purchasing these on the open market. The scheme provides a high degree of flexibility in this regard.

If a farmer buys a bull this year which is four-star but subsequently gets reassessed down to three-star, will that farmer be affected?

A farmer using a stock bull must have a four- or five-star bull on his holding on 30 June 2019. This bull will be eligible for the scheme provided that it was genotyped four or five stars at the time of purchase, regardless of whether it is subsequently reassessed as the general index rises.

Farmer reaction suggests that many are going to struggle with the complexities of the scheme. How does the Department intend to address these concerns?

The scheme has been designed to strike the balance between driving genuine ambition in improving beef breeding and achieving value for money for the €300m investment while making sure the that the obligations for the farmer are both understandable and achievable. There are just six core actions under the scheme, all of which will be familiar to suckler farmers, particularly those who have engaged with Department schemes for the suckler sector in the past.

It is vital that any farmer applying for the scheme understands that it involves a six-year contract and that entry to the scheme in year one means committing to staying the course for the full six years. Any withdrawal before the end of the BDGP will require a full payback of any payment under the scheme.

Comprehensive training will be provided to each successful applicant to explain the key issues such as the requirements of the scheme, the optimal use of breeding indices and the importance of maternal traits.

In addition, the applicants will receive supplementary information and reports related to their farm from ICBF throughout the duration of the scheme.

If a farmer has 20 cows in 2014 but drops down to 18 in 2016, will that farmer get paid on 20 or 18?

Scheme applicants will be paid on the number of eligible forage hectares they declare each year and not the number of cows. The maximum eligible forage hectares on which an applicant is entitled to claim will be equal to the number of calved cows on his/her holding in 2014 (known as reference animals) divided by a standard stocking rate of 1.5. So a farmer with 30 calved cows in 2014 will be eligible for payment on a maximum of 20 hectares in each year of the scheme. Each applicant’s eligible forage area will be notified to him/her upon acceptance into the scheme.

A farmer’s eligible forage area must not drop below 80% of his/her eligible forage area established at the outset of the scheme or he/she will be disqualified from the programme.

Has the Department set specific targets to deem the Programme a success? Are there specific targets on: • Calves weaned per cow and heifer put to the bull/AI. • What is the average weaning weight of calves per cow/heifer put to the bull. • The age at first calving. • The percentage of heifers retained in the herd for more than three breeding seasons. • A herd’s average calving interval.

The aims of the programme are: (i) to improve the genetic merit of the national beef herd through the collection of data and genotypes of selected animals which will allow for the application of genomic selection in the beef herd and (ii) to lower the intensity of GHG emissions by improving the quality and efficiency of the national beef herd.

It is clear that by refocusing on maternal traits, while continuing to benefit from the gains in terminal traits, that there are considerable gains to be made in terms of age at first calving, weaning weights, etc.