Maximise your BEEP-S payment in 2022
Type Media Article
Alan Nolan, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe
It’s that time of year again when weanling sales are getting into full swing. For suckler farmers it’s important to have a plan in place now for meeting the requirements of the BEEP-S scheme before weanlings are sold.
The BEEP-S payment is open to calves born in the herd of the applicant between 1st July 2021 and 30th June 2022. Below is a summary of the Actions to be completed.
Action 1: Weigh both the Cow and Calf separately - Compulsory:
This is the key action of the BEEP-S scheme and requires participants to weigh each un-weaned calf and its dam and submit the weights to ICBF within 7 days. 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 will determine the eligible number of animals for overall payment. Weights must be submitted to ICBF before the 1st of November 2022.
Weaning Efficiency: The BEEP scheme requires that the calf and it’s dam must be weighed on the same day before weaning. This is done to get a true reflection of the calf’s performance while they were suckling on the cow. After inputting these weights a farmer can generate a “Weaning Performance Report”. This report calculates an adjusted 200-day weight for each calf and it’s dam and expresses the calf 200-day weight as a % of the cow’s weight to give you a “Weaning Efficiency %”. After putting in the hard work of weighing, farmers should take the time to study this report. It will help identify the most efficient cows on the farm and also the least efficient cows. This is important information to have when making breeding and culling decisions in the future.
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 meal to eligible calves in the 4 weeks prior to and for 2 weeks after weaning. Proof of meal purchase and weaning dates 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 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. You will also need to retain proof of vaccines purchased and dates of administration to calves. Depending on products used this has to be done a number of weeks pre-weaning. Vaccination should be done in consultation with your Vet to select the correct product(s) 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. Contact your chosen approved Lab in good time and ask them to post out a sampling pack. Samples must be submitted to an approved Lab by 3rd October 2022.
The BEEP-S scheme pays €90 for the first 10 cow/calf pairs when all actions are completed and €80 per cow/calf pair thereafter upto a maximum of 100 cow/calf pairs. In a year of very high costs it is important that farmers don’t miss out on this payment; so put a plan in place now to get all actions completed in the next few weeks.
Dairy Beef Calf Scheme 2022
This scheme pays €20/head to weigh dairy beef calves up-to a maximum of 40 calves. Eligible calves must be born after 1st July 2021 and their dam must be a dairy cow. If the sire of the calf is a dairy bull then only male calves qualify. If the sire is a beef breed, male and female calves qualify. Calves must be at least 12 weeks old at weighing. Submit all weights to ICBF by 1st Nov 2022.
For any further information or assistance on these important schemes contact your local Teagasc Office.