A record number of calves were included this year as part of the National Genotyping Programme (NGP), which topped the 1m cow mark for the first time.

An additional 3,664 herds joined the NGP in 2025, bringing the total number of cows in the programme to 1.1m.

This comprises over 790,000 dairy cows and 302,000 suckler cows, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“As of the first week of May 2026, a total of 895,000 samples had been received into the laboratory,” ICBF stated.

“During the peak of the calving season, the lab processed 118,000 and 116,000 samples across consecutive weeks, significantly exceeding last year’s peak of 99,000 samples over the same period,” it added.

Laboratory performance remained consistent throughout the spring, despite the increase in volumes, ICBF insisted, with testing times generally taking between four and five days.

Calves were registered at an average of 14.2 days old, representing a slight improvement on 2025.

“Sample quality also remained very high, with less than 1% of samples recorded as empty or unsuitable – and a similarly small proportion returning poor-quality results,” ICBF stated.

The impact of genotyping is increasingly being seen in the marts, with ICBF claiming that approximately half the calves sold through sales rings had a commercial beef value (CBV). This percentage increased to 56% during some peak weeks.

Meanwhile, ICBF insisted that a fully genotyped national herd remained its goal.

“By integrating DNA sampling into calf registration, the NGP is delivering more accurate data, improving breeding decisions, and increasing confidence across the supply chain,” ICBF stated.