A new iteration of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is needed to ensure continued genetic improvements in the suckler herd, a review of the scheme has found.

A review conducted by the economics and planning division of the Department of Agriculture recommends that such a scheme should have the “highest possible level of genotyping” in the suckler herds involved, the increased use of four- or five-star cows and more on-farm data recording.

The report on the review has also suggested that data collected under the BDGP should be merged with animal performance related data such as that collected under BEEP-S scheme.

Such a move, the report says, would “ensure a holistic approach” to improving the sustainability of the suckler sector.

Last month, the Irish Farmers Journal revealed that the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), the replacement to the BDGP scheme, will open for applications in March.

Emissions

The ‘Review of the Beef Data Genomics Programme 2015-2021’ also made recommendations on measures to reduce emissions from the suckler sector.

It said knowledge transfer activities should be leveraged to improve and increase the impact of the carbon navigator and other tools at farm level.

Payments under the BDGP to 2021 amounted to over €285m, the review found. / Donal O' Leary

It found that there should be continued research on environmental traits within the €uro-Star index, such as through direct selection for an animal’s methane traits.

This, the report recommends, would identify potential methods to further environmental performance improvements.

“Similarly, further analyses into areas such as younger finishing age, informed by the data, could help accelerate gains,” it reads.

Review

The review into the BDGP’s performance was widely positive, with the report writers Anthony Cawley and Charlie Banks stating it made “positive gains towards [its] objectives” and that there was “clear policy alignment with other interacting policies”.

Payments under the scheme to 2021 amounted to over €285m, with an average of approximately 22,600 farmers participating in the scheme each year between 2016 and 2020. These farmers had about 491,500 suckler cows involved in the scheme, the review found.

This near half-million animals are equivalent to more than half the total number of suckler cows in the country.

The average suckler herd in the 2021 scheme was estimated at approximately 22.8 suckler cows.

On farmer incomes, the review found that the mean BDGP payment participating farmers received between 2015 and 2021 was €1,950 per annum.

Read more

New suckler scheme to open in March