There are two planned beef €uro-Star evaluation runs before the important 31 October timeline for farmers participating in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme I (BDGP I).

On this date, participating farmers must satisfy the requirement of having at least 50% of their reference number of females genotyped as four or five stars on the replacement index.

For animals to be considered eligible on this date, they must meet all of these criteria:

  • 1) Rated as four or five stars on the replacement index (on a within-breed or on a cross-breed basis) at the time of genotyping (for those replacements bred within the herd). Where a non-genotyped replacement heifer is purchased, this animal must be subsequently genotyped and confirmed four or five stars on the replacement index before deemed eligible to be counted in the calculation;
  • 2) at least 16 months old; and
  • 3) born in 2013 or later for animals introduced into the herd after 5 June 2015. The 2013 age rule is not applicable to cows born in the herd or purchased prior to 5 June 2015.

    • Evaluation runs

    The next evaluation run takes place on 21 July. The deadlines for DNA samples to be received at the ICBF or the relevant laboratory for inclusion in this evaluation run was 6 May, while the last day for submitting all data for evaluations (data, pedigree and valid genotypes) was 5 June.

    The following evaluation run takes place on 22 September.

    It is critical that where farmers have DNA tissue samples or sampling kits still on hand and they wish to have these genotypes included in this evaluation that they have samples returned by 8 July.

    The final day to have data submitted for inclusion in this evaluation is 7 August.

    If there are any outstanding tissue tag samples for animals that left the herd before tissue tags were received or animals were unable to be sampled for any reason, then it is important to contact the ICBF on 023-883 2883.