A key requirement in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) is weighing of cow-calf pairs in advance of weaning.

Participants must weigh at least 80% of eligible animals born on the holding of the yearly reference number along with weighing their dams and submit these weights to the Irish Cattle Breeding federation (ICBF).

Year four of SCEP runs from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 so this needs to be taken in to account when assessing if this target has been met.

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It is important to note that where less than 80% of pairs are weighed then there is no payment for that action for the year of breach plus an additional 10% penalty for that year.

Cows and calves must be weighed on the same day. Calves must be a minimum of 50 days of age at weighing but the optimum timeframe identified for weighing by ICBF is when the majority of calves are aged between 150 and 250 days of age

Table 1 details the optimum timeframe based on a range in calf birth dates.

Where there is a split calving pattern in place then weighing should ideally be split to facilitate weighing at this timeframe.

The following are key points to remember:

  • For a calf to be deemed eligible for including their weights it must be born in the herd, un-weaned and weighed with its dam on the applicant’s holding on the same day.
  • Where a calf or its dam dies before five months of age, this must be recorded on the Animal Movement and Identification system (AIM). These animals will not contribute to the 80% target figure.
  • All calves being submitted for weighing must be eligible for the scheme.
  • The calf must be a minimum of 50 days old before they are eligible to be weighed.
  • Weights should be submitted to ICBF within seven days of weighing and no later than 5.30pm on 1 November annually. Hard-copy forms must also be received by this deadline.
  • Only registered scales used in accordance with the requirements may be used.

    • Scales registration

    Scales may be registered through the ICBF portal. To register your own scales go to ‘Services’ followed by ‘SCEP’, then ‘Weighing Information’ and ‘View/Register Owned Scales’. The process is similar where you have borrowed a scales and in this case the last step is replaced by selecting ‘View’/register Third Party Scales’.

    For those hiring a weighing scales through your local co-op a booking can be made in advance online at icbf.com/the-weighing-scheme. The scales registration will be automatically assigned to your herd and be available to select for the date in question when recording weights.

    Herd eligibility status

    There is a useful resource on the ICBF portal to track your progress. The weighing progress will be clearly listed on the SCEP herd profile under the ‘Genotype Samples’ compliance table. The ‘View Herd Eligibility Status’ will also track progress on whether the minimum eligibility criteria of 50% of the annual reference number of calves born has been satisfied and that the required number of four-/five-star sires have been used.

    For queries for the Department, phone 057-867 4422 or email scep@agriculture.gov.ie. Queries for the ICBF can be addressed by calling 023-883 2883 or emailing query@icbf.com.