How does the reference number work for SCEP?

There are essentially three elements to the reference number for SCEP.

1 Your maximum possible number.

This will be presented to you when you log in to Agfood.ie. It will be calculated by looking at the number of cows calved in each year from 2016 to 2021 and taking an average of the best three years.

2 The number that you set as your programme reference number.

You can choose the maximum number as presented to you when you log in, or you can set it to any number less than this which is termed the “programme reference number”. Take, for example, a herd with a maximum possible reference number of 30. The herdowner can set their programme reference number as 30 or any number less than 30.

They cannot, however, go above 30. Whatever number you choose, this will be your maximum reference number for the duration of the programme. If you choose to reduce, you will not be allowed to increase back up to the original reference number presented to you on your application on day one.

3 Your yearly reference number.

You can then set a yearly reference number. In the example given, if the herdowner sets the programme reference number at 30, they can reduce their annual number for year one by up to 20%. Therefore, the herdowner could set their year one reference number to anything from 30-24. In year two, they can reduce by another 20% on the previous year’s number and so on.

I have a reference number of 30 but I only have 22 calves born this year. Do I have to weigh at least 80% of my reference number in cow/calf pairs each year?

No. Where there are fewer calves born than your reference number, you only have to weigh 80% of that number. So, in this example, the herd would need to submit weights on 80% of 22 calves born = 17.6 rounded down to 17. Calves must be weighed between 50 days of age and weaning. Each cow and calf must be weighed on the same day. Where a calf dies under five months of age, they will not be included in this calculation. Weights must be submitted to ICBF no later than 1 November each year.

In year four, the herd went from 20 back up to their full programme reference number of 30. The maximum 20% reduction applies to the previous year’s reference number. An applicant can increase their yearly reference number in any year, up to a maximum of the programme reference number set at application stage.

Will females eligible in BDGP be eligible for SCEP?

Yes, if they are still in your herd they will be eligible.

Will stock bulls eligible in BDGP be eligible for SCEP?

Yes, if they are still in your herd they will be eligible.

If my bull is initially genotyped four- to five-star but later drops to three-star, does it remain eligible?

Yes, the progeny out of this sire will meet the 80% four- to five-star sire requirement in year one and two for example.

If a bull is eligible, does that make his daughters automatically eligible as four- to five-star females?

No, the daughters of a bull must be genotyped and four- to five-star in their own right to be deemed eligible.

If a bull or female is eligible in my herd, will they automatically be eligible in another herd if I sell them?

No, the animal would need to be four- to five-star at the time of moving into the new herd.

If I buy an animal that was eligible for SCEP in the seller’s herd, will it automatically be eligible in my herd?

No. A purchased animal will only be immediately eligible for SCEP in your herd if it is genotyped and four to five stars at the point of purchase. If the animal does not have a genomic evaluation at purchase, it can only become eligible in your herd once it receives a genomic evaluation and is four to five stars on same. Do not buy animals based on the evaluation information in another herd’s SCEP eligibility report. These evaluations will be historic in many cases as this is what deems the animal eligible in its current herd. You can check the animal’s current €uro-Star details on the ICBF Animal Search at www.icbf.com.

If a bull or female genotypes as a three-star and is ineligible but later rises to a four-star, will they become eligible?

Yes, these animals will become eligible. It is important that if you are short of eligible females coming close to one of the 31 October deadlines, that you are not depending on these females to increase to four-star. You could be lucky and they increase in time, but if they don’t, then you’ll miss the target deadline and receive a penalty.

When will genomic tags be going out this year?

The sooner a herd signs up to SCEP, the sooner ICBF can start the process of ordering tags. It is unlikely that tags will arrive on farms before May-June. This is only in year one as the programme is only open for signups now. There is no reason that tags cannot be issued in February/March in future years.

If I am participating in the DNA calf registration programme, will these samples be counted towards my SCEP requirement?

Yes.

If I’m genotyping animals privately myself, will these samples count towards my BDGP samples?

No. If you are a pedigree breeder sampling animals you should wait for ICBF to issue samples and then sample the remaining calves yourself. If you are autumn-calving, wait until the following spring for samples to be sent out and then you can sample the remaining calves yourself.

Why can’t we get double tissue tags and sample animals at birth?

This could only work in a scenario where the herd is in a DNA calf registration programme. The minister recently announced plans to launch a national genotyping programme which aims to genotype 800,000 cows. This would pave the way for herds to take DNA samples at birth which could then be counted as SCEP genotypes and would remove the need to sample older animals. This won’t be possible for this year (2023) though.

What is the cost of genomic sampling?

It costs €20/animal. A herd with a reference number of 30 will be sampling 21 animals (70%). This would be €420/year. The herd’s gross payment will be €4,275. The annual cost of genotyping, therefore, will be about 9-10% of a herd’s gross payment. This is down from approximately 14% under BDGP.

What is the current four-star cut-off on the replacement index?

The current figure for an animal to hit four stars on the replacement index across breed is €99. The within-breed figures can differ a lot, but these are only applicable to pedigree/purebred animals. Check out www.icbf.com after each evaluation to stay on top the cut-offs.

The four-star cut-off was €74 at the start of BDGP. Why has it changed?

As the genetic merit of the national herd increases, so too do the star-rating percentiles. While €25 might seem like a big increase, this is over the course of eight years (BDGP started in 2015). This equates to only €3/year of €0.5/evaluation (six evaluations/year). If we were to “freeze” it for the duration of the programme, the percentiles would not give a true reflection of the national herd throughout the programme. When the “freeze” would be removed at the end of the programme, there would be a sudden big jump in the percentiles which would not be ideal.

Some of my cows were genotyped four to five stars during the BDGP but have since dropped to one, two or three stars. Will these cows be eligible for SCEP?

Yes, animals that were eligible for BDGP in your herd will remain eligible in your herd for SCEP. This applies to both females and stock bulls. So, for example, if you had a cow or stock bull that was five stars on its first genomic evaluation in your herd, but is now three stars, it will remain eligible in your herd based on that original genomic evaluation. It will not, however, be eligible in another herd if sold as one, two or three stars.

TB has ruined cow numbers on me for the last number of years so my average will be much lower than what it should be – what can I do?

It’s for this type of reason we went with an average of three years out of six. Yes some farmers will still be impacted badly and we can review and come up with something but we can’t pay to expand a herd.”

I’m a summer calver (May to July) and this scheme ends in June so am I being penalised for summer calving? Can participant pick a timeframe to suit the farm?

Scheme is designed for spring calving herds yes, and I suppose always someone caught but that is the way it is – can’t change terms and conditions now.

If I want to transfer to my son or daughter mid-way through scheme – what happens?

That’s possible once new entrant signs a declaration of undertaking to stay within the terms and conditions.

Why can’t we get tissue tags (for genotyping) earlier in year?

“Yes will be summer this year, but in year two, three, four, and five we hope to get them out in February and March.

Who will do the training, and if Teagasc, do you have to be a Teagasc member?

Haven’t decided or allocated who is doing training yet – no won’t have to be a Teagasc member.

Will the terms of the Bord Bia change over the course of the five years?

No major changes expected, but over five years might be some slight changes but nothing major.

How long will it take to get Bord Bia quality assured from the time of application to the time of approval?

Allowing time for and issues to be corrected and a closeout period, you need to be leaving two months from the time of application to the time of approval. SCEP participants need to be fully quality assured by mid-October so farmers need to get their applications in by the end of July 2023 to make sure that fulfil the requirements of the scheme.

What happens if I choose to drop out of the Bord Bia. Are numbers rounded up or down for specific targets?

All are rounded down so if you have 21 cows and need 50% calved then you need to have 10 calved.

Can the eligible forage area include beneficial features?

Yes eligible area off the BISS application and can include beneficial features.

What about new entrants – will there be a SCEP entry next year?

Don’t know if there will be ‘SCEP 2’ depends on funding take up, but if eligible for this year I’d advise get in this year.

Is it paid on cow numbers or land area?

“On land, therefore reference number divided by 1.5 to get the payable area.

I have 40 cows and have done for the past number of years. I plan to reduce slightly over the coming years. Can I go into the scheme with my 40 cow reference for this year and get paid for less cows as I reduce numbers in the years to come, or do I need to select my reduced number of cows now at the start?

Yes, you can paid for the maximum number of cows in year 1 and then reduce your yearly reference number by 20% each year as you reduce the number of suckler cows on your farm.

I’m a new entrant to suckling in 2023. I want to get to 15 cows but for financial reasons I only plan to go to 8 or 10 this year. Is there any leeway for new entrants building numbers? I am not a young trained farmer.

The most important thing to do is apply for the scheme by the closing date of 22 May 2023. You can then email the details of your situation to the Department of Agriculture to see if anything can be done in relation to your reference number. There are some provisions being made for new entrants.

I have a small commercial herd and a few pedigree cows as well. The pedigree cows are not going to hit the star targets. Can I select a lower reference number to leave out the pedigree cows and claim on the commercial cows?

Yes, if you choose a lower reference number you will have lower requirements to meet in terms of genotyping and four- to and five-star cows in your herd.