It is hard to believe we are just a few months away from the end of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP I). When it was launched, the scheme was welcomed by some and ridiculed by others. It still strikes a chord, with farmers having a divided opinion.

One thing everyone agreed on was the need for support for the suckler sector. Some might say the metrics of the scheme came too early but, in the end, 23,000 herds participated in it bringing 550,000 suckler cows into the programme. The payment for the average participating herd of 24 cows was €2,053 or just over €85/cow.

Like previous schemes and programmes, any support payments in the future will be linked to the environment

The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) data points to an improvement in fertility traits in participating herds with a slight increase in carcase traits such as conformation and weight, something many thought would deteriorate given the focus on maternal traits in the programme. The bolt-on Beef Environment Efficiency Programme (BEEP-S) launched in 2020 as a follow-on from the 2019 BEEP will deliver a further €2,020 to that 24-cow herd in 2020. Weighing will improve the reliability of the indexes and aid in management on farms.

Like previous schemes and programmes, any support payments in the future will be linked to the environment so the current tentative links being made between the replacement index and greenhouse gas emissions could play a big role in garnering support at EU and national level for a future programme.

I think everyone would like to see both programmes (BDGP and BEEP-S) linked with one substantial annual payment made, based on completed tasks. There are other important considerations to be made such as, should dairy-cross heifers brought into the suckler herd attract the same payment rate? Should the payment switch to weaning efficiency? Should the payment switch to weanling efficiency, age at first calving or earlier slaughter age? All of these questions need to be looked at quickly, with 2021 just round the corner.