BEEP-S and Dairy Beef Calf Programme - What farmers need to do Now!!

Kevin O’Hara, Education Officer, Teagasc Ballinrobe

The BEEP-S and the dairy calf to beef schemes are coming to the stage where farmers need to put a plan in place for meeting the requirements of both schemes.

The Beef Environment Efficiency Programme or BEEP payment is open to calves born in the herd of the applicant between 1st July 2020 and 30th June 2021.

Below is a list of the Actions to be completed to maximise your payment. 

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

This action requires participants to weigh each un-weaned calf and its dam and submit weights to ICBF within 7 days. The un-weaned Live Calf and Dam must be weighed on the applicants holding on the same day. Only scales registered with ICBF 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 to ICBF before the 1st of November 2021.

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

You would have being asked to select one of these optional actions at the time of application.

The Meal Feeding Action requires 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 and purchase dockets kept on file. This option can cause issues for farmers who intend to sell weanlings or cull cows early in the autumn but have not factored in the 6 weeks of meal feeding which is required.

Note: Due to the requirement to feed meal for 2 weeks after weaning, cows and calves should be weighed at least 2 weeks before sale date.

Vaccinations to prevent respiratory disease (pneumonia) pre-weaning.  You will need to select particular vaccines that target the relevant risk on your farm and proof of vaccination purchase and dates recorded for the dates of administration to calves. Depending on products used this has to be done a number of weeks pre-weaning.  This should be done in accordance with your veterinary practitioner to select the correct product for your farm.

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

This is an optional action where you collect 10 dung samples from cows. They must 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 for your herd. To date this year many labs, have put strict deadlines for receiving these samples in place, due to the large volume which was received in the closing days of the 2020 scheme. If you have not done so already you should contact your lab to see are they still accepting samples and ask them to post out a sampling pack.  Samples must be submitted to an approved Lab by 1^st October 2021.

Below is an overview of the payment rates available in the BEEP-S programme

Dairy Beef Calf Programme

The Dairy Beef Calf Programme is aimed at farmers who are rearing dairy cross calves. The requirements are as follows:

• 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 1^st November 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, or male or female calf’s 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

For any further information or assistance on these important schemes contact your local Teagasc Office.