2015 – 2020 Beef Data
Genomics Programme
October/November 2015
Information Sessions
Introduction
• Introduced as part of new measures agreed under
RDP 2014 – 2020
• Programme is for a period of six years and available
funds are €300m.
• Approximately 29,770 applications received involving
circa 560,000 animals
• Applicant must commit to six years. However
flexibilities will be applied. Will be discussed later
BDGP
Objectives
• To lower the intensity of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
by improving quality and efficiency on national beef
herd
• Improve the genetic merit of the national beef herd
through collection of data and genotypes of selected
animals which will allow for genomic selection in the
beef herd
BDGP
Reference Year
• Reference year is 2014
• (In limited circumstances 2015 can be requested as
the reference year)
• No of calved cows in 2014 will be the number of
reference animals
• No of forage hectares declared on 2014 SPS will
establish eligible forage area
• Payment will be made on the Maximum Payable Area
(MPA) = Number of reference cows divided by a S/D
of 1.5
BDGP
Payment/ Land Requirements
• €142.50 for the first 6.66 H/A’s and €120 for the
remaining H/A’s.
• Must submit a valid BPS application declaring all land
parcels each year
• Requirement to maintain a minimum of 80% of the
reference area known as the MPA.
• Must also retain 60% of the number of reference
animals each year for genotyping without repetition
Requirement 1 – Calving Details
• Tag and register all calves within 27 days of birth.
• Provide sire number or A.I. Code (where bulls are
leased AIM requirements must be met)
• Complete calving survey
Requirement 2 - Surveys
• Complete surveys
• Calf – docility, vitality, size, quality and health traits
• Calves must be kept until at least 5 months old to
record data – data not reliable if completed earlier
• Cow – Milk score, docility and culling reasons
• Bull – docility, functionality and culling reasons
Requirement 3 - Genotyping
• Genotype specified animals (as determined by the
Irish Cattle Breeding Federation)
• Send selected samples for DNA testing to the
appropriate laboratories.
• Must have 60% of reference animals available each
year without repetition
Requirement 4 – Replacement Strategy
• Bulls
• From 30/06/2016,if renting in bulls, must use a 4 or 5
star bull
• Must provide notice to DAFM of intention to lease
bulls by 30/06/16
• Must have at least one designated 4 or 5 star bull on
holding from 30/06/2019 to 30/06/20
• AI. From 30/06/16, at least 80% used must be from 4
or 5 stars bulls
• Do not have to be pedigree
Replacement Strategy (cont)
• Heifers, can be purchased or bred by farmer
• Must be 4/5 star on replacement index
• Must be at least 16 months old and born in 2013 or
later, if not in the herd by the closing date of 5 June
2015
• On 31 October 2018 replacement females must
equal 20% of the number of the reference animals
• On 31 October 2020 replacement females must
equal 50% of the number of the reference animals
Requirement 5 – Carbon Navigator
• (Carbon Navigator) A farm management package
developed by Bord/Bia and Teagasc which quantifies
environmental gain that can be made by setting
targets in key areas such as grazing season
• Must be completed by 31 October 2016 in
conjunction with advisor
• Subsequent years ICBF will issue (survey) forms to
enable carbon navigator to be updated annually
. Training course to be completed by 31st October 2016
.Payment of €166 will be made to applicants on completion of this course
Requirement 6 – General Training
• Training course to be completed by 31st October
2016
• Payment of €166 will be made to applicants on
completion of this course and will be paid directly to
the applicant by the approved trainer
• Applicants will be notified of the details of the training
sessions
Remember…
• The application submitted in May/June 2015 was the
application to participate in the Programme.
• The application for payment under this Programme is
the annual BPS application.
• Ensure you adhere to the BVD requirements on an
ongoing basis.
• Payment will be made on your MPA each year once
commitments have been undertaken.
Flexibilities
•Withdrawals :
•Withdraw up to payment or notification of inspection.
•Withdraw without recoupment if land disposed of.
•If 80% of your MPA is retained you must continue with the
Programme
• Withdraw on grounds of Force Majeure
What can/will Dept do
• Continue to communicate with farmers - information
notes, text messages, Press releases etc.
• DAFM and ICBF lo-call help-lines.
• Attend events relevant such as farm walks, Ploughing
• Counter service.
• Website updated regularly with up to date
information.
Help us pay you
For 2015
• Ensure the animals selected for genotyping are
tagged and samples returned as soon as possible. If
selected animals are dead/moved request substitute
samples immediately from ICBF.
• Complete and return your commitment forms as soon
as possible.
2015 payments...
• Payments will commence in December for those
herds who have complied fully with the Programme
requirements.
• Payments will be made on a continuous basis as
herds become eligible throughout the Programme
Going Forward
• For 2016 :
•
•
•
•
Return all data and samples as soon as possible.
Complete carbon navigator
Undertake training early
This will avoid last minute rush and possible delay of
your 2016 payment
THANK YOU
Understanding €uro-Stars
The ideal suckler cow.
• The ideal suckler cow must;
– Calve herself.
– Calve each year.
– Have enough milk to rear her calf.
– Be not too big.
– Have a good quality calf at foot.
• In summary, a “balanced” cow.
– We all have these cows => need more!
21
A balanced cow!
22
The Replacement Index.
Trait
Calving
Feed Emphasis:
Intake
Goal
Less
Less
Relative wt
16%
18%
Carcass
(for age)
Cowwttraits
71%
Maternal milk
Calf traits 29%
Female fertility
Docility
More
More
More
More
21%
18%
23%
4%
Fertility: Case Study
2 x 20 Cow Suckler Herds
1. High Fertility Herd
– 0.95 calves/cow/year.
– 20 cows producing 19 calves.
– Avg. weaning weight 350 kg.
Total weaning weight produced = 6,650 kg
2. Low Fertility Herd
–
–
–
0.7 calves/cow/year.
20 cows producing 14 calves.
Avg. weaning weight 400 kg.
Total weaning weight produced = 5,600 kg
• 1,050 kg more from High Fertility Herd.
• @ €2.20 kg weanling price
= €2,310
25
Estimating €uro-Stars?
• How do
ICBF
estimate
€uro-Stars
for my cows.
– BDGP
reports.
– Cow at
ploughing.
26
BDGP Reports.
27
•
How are €uro-Stars
calculated?
€uro-Star indexes are based on;
– Ancestry (sire + dam)
– Animal performance, including that of
ancestors.
• In future, €uro-Star indexes will also
include a prediction of performance based
on the animals genotype.
28
What does the €uro-Star mean?
• The “€uro” part.
– The additional profit that an animal (male or
female) will deliver compared to another
animal (male or female).
• The “star” part.
– Animals are ranked into “20-percentiles”
– For example, 5-star => top 20%, 3star=average, 1 star=> bottom 20%.
29
Do the €uro-Stars work? Analysis
of Data from Existing BDGP Herds.
• 29,502 herds in BDGP.
– 104,269 suckler females that were born in
2008 and entered these herds as suckler herd
replacements.
• Analysis based on;
– Value of weanling progeny.
– Value of animals at slaughter.
31
Some “high-level” questions.
• Of the 104k females, what
% were:
– Home-bred?
– AI bred?
– Dairy-bred?
– Still alive?
• Which breed combination
was most popular?
32
Question
Answer
Home-bred 60%
AI-bred
24%
Dairy-bred
23%
Still alive
65%
Breed
LM * LM
Weanling Performance;
5 star versus 1 star.
Repl
Stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Diff 5 v 1
Repl
Index
€126
€85
€64
€44
€8
Still
Weaning
Wean
alive Progeny weight kg Price/kg value
79%
4.57
327.7
€2.40
€786
75%
4.35
314.9
€2.45
€770
72%
4.23
309.0
€2.48
€768
69%
4.17
307.6
€2.48
€764
63%
3.94
300.6
€2.52
€757
16%
0.63
27.1
-€0.12 €28.3
Wean
Value All
€3,587
€3,353
€3,248
€3,188
€2,980
€606.4
• 5 star cows had more progeny, lasted longer, had heavier
weanlings (albeit at lower price/kg) and generated €28
more per weanling but €606 more profit to-date.
33
Carcass performance.
5 star cows versus 1 star cows.
Stars Num prog Age Slau
5 Stars
2.74
744.4
4 stars
2.61
763.0
3 stars
2.54
774.6
2 stars
2.50
774.6
1 star
2.36
783.3
Diff
0.38
-38.9
Carc wt
369.6
366.6
366.0
366.0
365.2
4.4
Conf Value/prog All prog
R+
€1,478
€4,054
R+
€1,467
€3,828
R+
€1,464
€3,716
R+
€1,464
€3,663
R+
€1,461
€3,453
€17
€601
• 5 star cows had highest total output, with lowest
input (-40 days on age at slaughter), compared
to 1 star.
34
Replacement index; More output
20
from less input.
Weight (kg)
15
Replacement
index; More output from
+ 30 kg at weaning
10
less input.
5
0
-5
-10
-15
- 26 kg lighter
-20
1
2
3
4
Replacement Star Rating
Weaning weight
Cow weight
5
There are 4/5 star cows across all
of the breeds
Based on 104k
2008 born
replacement
females.
36
What is genomics?
• “By taking a tissue sample, ICBF
can assess the animals DNA and
in doing so predict expected
performance based on knowledge
of how similar DNA (from other
animals) has performed on Irish
farms in the past”
• This is added to the existing €uroStar of the animal => more
accurate evaluation.
37
Summary.
• €uro-Star indexes are a key tool when
making breeding decisions.
– AI bulls, stock bulls &/or females.
• 5 star cows => the balanced cow.
– 5-star animals will leave an additional
€100/progeny compared to average animals
=> profitability.
– They will produce more overall output from
less overall input => sustainability.
38
Beef Data & Genomics Programme
Information Meetings 2015
Teagasc Beef Specialists
Overview
• Scheme Requirements
• Information Received to Date
• Meeting the Breeding Targets
• What is the next steps
Last 10 Years
• Reduced Slaughter Age by One Month
• Increased Carcass Weight in Bulls by 40Kg
Reference Number
No. of 4 & 5 Star animals in the Herd
Example
(1) Reference Cows & Payment
• No. Suckler Calf Births 2014
16
• No. Genotype Samples per Annum
10 animals (16 cows x 60%)
• Max. Payable Area required
10.66 ha. (16 cows / 1.5 cows /ha.)
• Min. Forage ha. required
8.53 ha. (10.66 ha. x 80%)
Max. Payment
€1,430 (minus genotyping cost €220)
On Forage Area
(6.66ha. X €142.50) + (4 ha. x €120)
On Cows
(10 cows x €95) + (6 cows x €80)
= €1429.05
= €1,430
Example
What Animals for Genotyping?
• 10 Animals to be Genotyped each year (cost €220)
Which Animals will be Genotyped?
• ICBF will nominate the 10 animals /annum
In 2015 priority was given to;
•Any stock bull not yet genotyped
•4/5 star cows not yet genotyped, especially younger cows
•4/5 star heifers born in Spring 2015.
Some Breeds will have Higher
Replacement Index Values than Others
€74 is starting value for 4 Star
Bull Details
• Current stock bull will qualify for 30th June 2019 Requirement
• High on Terminal Index €142
(Top 1%)
• Low in Replacement Index €45
• Young Bull 2012 born
(Bottom 30%)
Stock Bull will be of Limited Value to Breed
Replacement 4 & 5 Star females in this herd
Selecting Bulls to Improve the Replacement Index
€74
•
Need to aim for a Replacement Index Value of above
•
Quality of the bull used will depend on current female values in the herd
•Bull will contribute Half the Value to the Progeny
• €140 RI value bull will contribute
• €30 RI value bull will contribute
€70
€15
•Example
Cow RI Value €80
(50% Cow value = €40)
X
Bull RI Value €102
(50% Bull Value = €51)
Progeny Replacement Value (€40 + €51) = €91
Current Cow & Heifer Position
12 Animals Currently 4 & 5 Star
Current Cow
&
Heifer
Position
2 Five star Cows Born in ’04 &’08
Issues with the Current Herd
• 12 Animals currently 4 & 5 Star in the herd
• Will be required to have at least 8 genotyped 4 & 5 star animals by
31/10/2020
• Top 2 cows only suitable with current stock bull to breed replacements
Top Cow RI Value €146
2nd Cow RI Value €114
3rd Cow RI Value €98
X
Lim Bull
RI Value €45
Progeny A € 95
Progeny B € 79
Progeny C € 72
Issues with the Current Herd
Options to Breed more 4 & 5 Star animals
Consider using High Reliability High Index AI
sire on top cows
•
Bulls genotyped and higher reliability
•
Choose from variety of breeds
•
Can maintain a closed herd
Issues with the Current Herd
Options to Breed more 4 & 5 Star animals
If Replacing stock bull get a high replacement
index genotyped bull (+€80)
•
Need a genotyped animal
•
Replacement value may be limited if you
choose to stay with a specific breed
•
Herd more vulnerable to bringing in disease
Issues with the Current Herd
Options to Breed more 4 & 5 Star animals
Look to source heifers from other herds
(suckler or dairy cross)
• Marts will start to display heifers Indices
• Have some members in your discussion got
surplus heifers
• May be only real option if the current cow
base is low
• Herd will be more exposed to disease
Next steps???
1. Fill out the survey sheets on paper or online
(Payments for 2015 will issue from mid December)
Cow Data
Bull Data
Calf Data
2. Tag the nominated animals for genotyping and return
the samples
3. Go through your Eurostar Report & discuss with your Adviser
• What is the current position in your herd? (Cows/Heifers/Stock Bull)
• How will I ensure that I meet the female targets in 2018 and 2020?
• Will I need to use AI? Is it an option for me
• Can I breed my own replacement heifers?
• Am I better off buying in Replacements?
• When I come to replace my stock Bull what should I look for?
• Will I have surplus 4 & 5 star heifers to sell on?
• What should I do with my 1 & 2 Star cows?
• Are some of my animals likely to change once they are genotyped?
There are many questions to be answered
Start Planning Now!!
Thank You