Of the 326,629 cattle that were due to be genomically tested in 2017 under the Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP), over 90% of samples have been returned to date, according to the Department.

To date there has been 295,314 samples returned, with a further 31,315 yet to be returned.

The onus is on farmers to get these samples taken and returned before the 7 December deadline if a farmer wishes to ensure payment for mid-December.

Animals can only be genotyped once. The requirement for every year of the programme is to genotype 60% of the reference number of animals which was established in 2014 for the majority of farmers.

Genomic tissue-sampling accounts for 10% of total BDGP payment, while the genotyping itself accounts for 15%. Therefore, it should be a priority on farms to get these samples taken to ensure full payment.

Farmers are also reminded of their requirement to have completed their first carbon navigator for new entrants, or their annual update, by the 31 October deadline.

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