Benefits for SCEP herds with joining the National Genotyping Programme

Herds participating in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) can see many benefits if they also join the National Genotyping Programme.

The National Genotyping Programme (NGP), operated by ICBF, offers farmers the opportunity to genotype their herd at a subsidised cost. This programme is seen as the first step in moving the national herd towards DNA calf registration.

ICBF has recently encouraged all herds in SCEP to sign up to the National Genotyping Programme to avail of numerous benefits.

Herds that sign up to the programme, the ICBF says, will be using double tissue tags. One tag will take a sample for BVD, while the second tag will also take a sample which will be used for genotyping. This removes the need for a third button tag to be applied later to collect DNA, meaning that all calves can be DNA sampled at birth.

By collecting the sample at birth, farmers participating in SCEP no longer need to wait for button tags, often arriving later in the season, to genotype animals in their herd. Instead, this will now be completed when calves are first tagged.

In addition, by enrolling in the National Genotyping Programme, all calves will be fully parentage verified before registration, thus eliminating the risk of parentage errors. Animals will also receive their genomic evaluation sooner after birth, ICBF notes, and this will ensure any breeding animals will have genomic evaluations well before they are selected/sold for breeding. This will also benefit as a Commercial Beef Value (CBV) will also be available on mart screens for all genotyped weanlings and store cattle that are being traded.

For more information on the National Genotyping Programme, the costs involved and to sign up, visit the ICBF webpage.