Since my last article, calving has really kicked off. To date the ratio of bulls to heifers is 70/30, with a weight range from 60kg for the heaviest bull to 34kg for the lightest heifer. The question now raised with every heifer born is: “Is she a five star?”

I received my Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) €urostar report this week. This report details the number of females that are currently 4 or 5 stars on the replacement index and the percentage of 4 and 5-star females in the herd, compared with the number of cows calved in the reference year 2014.

With 124% of total females either 4 or 5 star, as a percentage of the reference number, I am satisfied that I will not have a problem meeting the 2018 or 2020 targets. Indeed, I hope to exceed these targets well by using bulls with a high replacement index on high-index heifers.

This simple BDGP report appears to have calmed the early furore that surrounded the launch of the scheme. Once farmers are able to see their own cows' figures and the numbers required to meet the targets, they are realising that overall the targets are not too difficult to hit.

It seems to me that there should have been more consultation between the Department of Agriculture, farmers and other stakeholders earlier in the design of the scheme, rather than launching the terms and conditions and then trying to bring farmers on board.

Knowledge Transfer scheme

Unfortunately, it appears that the same mistakes are currently being made with regard to the new Knowledge Transfer scheme. I have stated before that I believe discussion groups are a great way to transfer knowledge and best practice from advisers and fellow farmers to other group members.

Issues such as grass measuring, herd health, profit monitors and online data recording are all areas where discussion groups provide a basic form of training to farmers involved.

In the previous Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP), farmers were able to appoint a nominee to attend discussion group meetings on their behalf. This facility was used by many farmers to allow the next generation of farmers to improve their skills and knowledge before being named as herd owner.

However, in the design of the new scheme, the use of a nominee is not permitted. Does the Department of Agriculture have a stakeholders group meeting before the launch of a new scheme?

Maybe if there was a good discussion group involving the various stakeholders, issues that may cause problems further down the line would be flagged and resolved earlier in the process.