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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) was launched in May 2015 and is a six-year scheme. Payment is area-based – €142.50 for the first 6.66ha and €120 for each hectare thereafter, which is the equivalent of approximately €95/cow. Genotyping costs are deducted from this figure.
Farmers must record calving details, complete surveys relating to the calves’ docility, quality, vitality and health traits. Sixty percent of the reference number of animals (cows calved in 2014) must be genotyped in each year of the scheme. Twenty percent of the reference number of cows on the farm must have been four or five stars by 31 October 2018, while 50% must be four or five stars by 31 October 2020. A four- or five-star bull must be used on the farm and a carbon navigator must be completed each year. Payments are made in December each year, provided all scheme requirements are met.
The BEAM scheme was introduced in 2018 to compensate farmers for losses incurred due to Brexit uncertainty in the beef market. Payment will be made on bovine animals (older than 12 months of age) sent to slaughter in a reference period from 24 September 2018 to 10 May 2019 and suckler cows with progeny born from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018.
Payment is up to a maximum of 40 suckler cows at €40/head and up to a maximum of 100 bovine animals older than 12 months sent for slaughter during the reference period at a payment rate of €100/head.
One of the conditions of the scheme is to reduce organic nitrogen output per farm by 5% based on 2018 figures. Almost 35,000 farmers applied using up €78.1m of the €100m allocated to the scheme. Payments are scheduled to commence in December.
The BEEP scheme was introduced to increase the economic and environmental efficiency of the suckler herd through the improvement in the quantity and quality of data collected.
Payment is made on calves born on the holding between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019.
Weighing must be completed by 1 November and payment rates are €40 per eligible calf. The cow and calf must be weighed to attain payment. Payment is likely to be made in December.
A BEEP2 scheme has been provisionally announced as part of Budget 2020 this week, with €20m allocated to the scheme for 2020.
The Irish Farmers Journal also understands that there is a €10m allocation for a new animal health scheme, which will involve the vaccination of weanlings.
Based on a similar uptake as BEEP, this scheme would pay out €20 per vaccinated calf.
This scheme is likely to only recover costs associated with vaccination.
However, it should benefit the health of calves and reduce costly pneumonia incidences on farms. It is understood vets won’t be required to administer the vaccine.
The Irish Farmers Journal also understands that a new pilot dairy calf to beef weighing scheme will be introduced, with €10m allocated to this scheme.
This scheme will pay out €10/calf for each calf that is weighed on beef farms. One- to two-year-old dairy calf to beef animals on these farms will also qualify for a €10/head payment once weights are submitted.
This payment will be made on dairy Holstein Friesian male calves and dairy beef calves. The above fund means enough funding has been allocated to cover 500,000 calves under one year of age and 500,000 calves aged between one and two years of age.
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