While some confusion continues regarding the Beef Data & Genomics Programme (BDGP) it does now appear that more information is making its way to farmers about the scheme.

Some of the fears being expressed regarding penalties and the selection of 2014 as the base year seem to have been addressed by the Department.

Penalties will not apply across schemes and there is provision for new entrants to use 2015 as a base year. Given the amount of farmers that have attended various regional meetings around the country there is a clear interest in the scheme among suckler farmers.

With all stakeholders, including the IFA, Teagasc, ICBF and the Department of Agriculture encouraging farmers to apply before the deadline, I would hope the training element is rolled out as soon as possible.

This will ensure farmers are completely up to date with all terms and conditions and can start to implement a breeding strategy to meet the requirements by 2020.

2020 seems a long time and who knows what suckler and beef farming will look like in six years’ time?

It’s hard to know what beef farming will look like in two years’ time, but with 130,000 extra calves registered to date in 2015, I hope it is not a repeat of 2014.

IBR controls

So with all these extra calves coming ready for slaughter in two years’ time, will there be an oversupply in the market again?

The most logical answer is yes and with many European countries now implementing IBR controls, the live exporting of these calves will not be possible. This has to be a concern for all beef and suckler farmers in the country.

I was glad to read recently that Animal Health Ireland is to carry out a cost benefit analysis for a national IBR eradication programme. Hopefully this leads to a national eradication programme being implemented that can secure our export markets.

This year all autumn born calves received an IBR vaccination injection, something which was not carried out last year for some unknown reason. While this is not an expensive vaccination programme from a cost point of view, I am beginning to see the results from an output viewpoint.

On weighing the bull calves this week, calves are on average 73kg heavier than at the same time last year. Calves are roughly the same age and have received much the same management practices from birth.

Grassland management is improving and some of the improved performance can be attributed to this better grassland management.

However, there is certainly a response to the IBR vaccination programme and the cost benefit analysis on this farm means this is one programme that won’t be missed again.

Watch: Discussion on the Beef Data & Genomics Programme