Beep S and Dairy Beef Calf Programmes 2021

DAFM has announced the opening of a new €5m dairy beef calf programme for 2021.This new funding is in addition to the funding made available to the BEEP S programme. Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist has details of the tasks involved, for farmers applying for either or both programmes here

Dairy Beef Calf Programme 2021

The objective of the Dairy Beef Calf Programme is to support the decision making on farms through better quality data on herd performance and to increase the economic and environmental efficiency of beef from the dairy herd. It also hopes to further integrate the dairy and beef sectors by providing support for farmers who are rearing progeny from the dairy herd.

Main Task

The core action is the weighing of eligible calves, for which there is a payment of €20 per calf up to a maximum of 20 calves. So the maximum payment you can receive is €400.

• You must weigh a minimum of five eligible calves and submit the weights to the ICBF.
• All weights should be submitted within seven days of weighing and before November 1, 2021. Only scales registered can be used and they can be rented, owned or borrowed from a third party.

Eligible calves:

• male calf of a dairy breed; and,
• male or female calf of a beef breed sire born to a dairy breed dam in your herd.

These eligible calves must have been in your herd for at least 10 days before weighing and born on or after January 1, 2021. Calves must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of weighing.

Applications

Applications are open until midnight on April 26, 2021 and can be submitted online through your DAFM Agfood account by going into Beef Sector Efficiency Programmes tab. For further information on the Terms and Conditions and how to apply, please refer to DAFM Dairy Beef Calf Programme or contact your Agriculture Advisor for further information. 

Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Suckler 2020 (BEEP – S)

The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) has also announced a second year of  the very successful BEEP S for suckler farmers.

Applications

Applications are open until midnight on the 26^th April and can be submitted online through your DAFM Agfood account by following the same tab as with the Dairy Beef Calf Programme.

Eligible calves:

Calves born in the herd of the applicant between 1st July 2020 and 30th June 2021 will be eligible for payment in the programme if the various actions are selected by you.

Actions to be Completed 

Action 1: Weigh both the Cow and Calf separately - Compulsory:

This is essentially the same action as was there in last year’s programme where participants must weigh each unweaned calf and its dam and submit weights to ICBF within 7 days - All Calves being submitted for weighing must have been born between 01 July 2020 and 30 June 2021.   The Unweaned Live Calf and Dam must be weighed on the applicants holding on the same day. Only scales registered can be used and they can be rented, owned or borrowed from a third party.

The number of eligible pairs weighed in this action will determine the eligible number of animals for overall payment.  Weights must be submitted between 01st January 2021 and the 1st of November 2021  

Action 2: Meal Feeding or Vaccination for Pneumonia - Optional:

Important: These are optional actions that you can select but only select them at the time of application if you are going to carry them out otherwise penalties will apply.

Meal feeding will mean feeding concentrate to eligible calves in the 4 weeks prior to and for 2 weeks after weaning. Proof of meal purchase, weaning dates etc will have to be recorded.

Vaccination refers to the use of vaccines to prevent respiratory disease (pneumonia) pre weaning. Again you will need to select particular vaccines that target the target causal organisms and proof of vaccination purchase and dates recorded for the dates of administration to calves

Action 3:  Faecal Egg Testing for Liver & Rumen Fluke in Cows - Optional:

This again is an optional action that you can select in addition to actions above where you collect 10 dung samples from cows. They will be sent to a DAFM approved Lab where they will be pooled and checked for evidence of liver and rumen fluke. You then use the results to decide on the dosing strategy.

Rates of Payment

The additional options greatly improve the rate of payment if you opt to do them. 

For further information on the Terms and Conditions and how to apply, please refer to DAFM BEEP-S Programme  or contact your Agriculture Advisor for further information.