Publication
Help sheet for Beef Data and Genomics Programme 2017 - 2022
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
This is a six year programme and you will be required to complete all actions for the full six years. If you withdraw, or are disqualified from the Programme for a non-compliance, during the course of the six years, any payments already made will be recovered by the department. This help sheet is for guidance only. Please consult the conditions of the scheme for full details of all aspects of the Programme.
Eligibility
The Programme is open to suckler farmers, who are over 18 years of age and have a valid herd number, or have applied for a herd number by the closing date of this Programme. No BDGP II payment will be made in a Programme year unless all BVD PI (Persistently Infected) animals born prior to 1 January of that year have a date of death recorded on the Animal Identification Movement (AIM) system prior to 31 March of the Programme year.
Payment
Payment will be made at a rate of €142.50 for the each of the first 6.66 hectares of eligible forage land and €120 on the remaining eligible hectares.
The eligible hectares on which you are entitled to claim (otherwise known as the Maximum Payable Area – MPA) will be equal to the number of calved cows on your holding in 2014 or 2017 in the case of new entrants to suckler farming, (known as reference animals) divided by a standard stocking rate of 1.5, up to the limit of the declared forage land deemed eligible on your 2014 SPS application, or for new entrants the Basic Payment Scheme application for 2017.
If the declared forage land on your holding decreases by more than 20% of the MPA, then you will be disqualified from the Programme.
Selection Criteria - This will only apply in the event of oversubscription to the Programme.
The selection criteria, if required, may include:
The submission of a valid application does not guarantee entry in to the Programme.
Tag and Register all new born calves within 27 days of birth, provide sire number or AI code and complete survey relating to calving ease.
Complete a range of surveys relating to the calves, cows and bulls in your herd.
Genotype all the animals specified by the ICBF each year. The number to be genotyped will be equivalent to 60% of the number of reference animals on your holding in 2014 or 2017 where applicable.
Stock bull: At least one stock bull on the holding on 30 June 2021 must be a bull that has been genotyped 4 or 5 star on either the Terminal or Replacement index and this, or a similar 4 or 5 star bull, must be retained on the holding until 30 June 2022.
Applicants are strongly advised to introduce 4 or 5 star bulls at the next replacement date to avoid compliance difficulties and potential clawback of payments later in the Programme.
Al: When using AI, at least 80% of the AI used must be from 4 or 5 star bulls on the Terminal or Replacement index. This applies from 30 June 2018.
Leased bulls: Any applicant renting in bulls for the purpose of breeding must, from 30 June 2018, use bulls that are 4 or 5 star on either the Terminal or Replacement index (on a within or across breed basis). Programme applicants availing of this option must, inform DAFM of the use of leased bulls.
Female Replacements: You will be required to ensure that a percentage of your heifers/eligible suckler cows are genotyped females that are:
(i) 4 or 5 stars on the replacement index (see T&C's for specific conditions).
(ii) At least 16 months old.
(iii) Born in 2015 or later.
The number of heifers/eligible suckler cows meeting these requirements on each holding on 31 October 2020 must be equivalent to 20% of the number of your reference animals and on 31 October 2022 must be equivalent to 50% of your reference animals.
You must complete a carbon navigator with a department approved advisor by 31 October 2017 and provide data for it to be annually updated. This is a tool which estimates the potential financial savings and green house gas reductions that could be made on your holding.
You must attend a training course relating to this Programme by 31 October 2017.