Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme - Suckler

Obligations of the Programme

There are a number of actions in the Programme, with action one being compulsory.

Applicants then also have the option to choose action 2, and/or action3.

7.1 Action 1; Weighing and Submission of Weights to ICBF.

This is a compulsory action. Participants must weigh each unweaned calf and its dam and submit weights to ICBF within 7 days.

Requirement 1 - All Calves being submitted for weighing must have been born between 01 July 2019 and 30 June 2020.

Requirement 2 – Unweaned Live Calf and Dam must be weighed on the applicants holding on the same day.

Requirement 3 – Only scales registered and used in accordance with the requirements of Annex 1 may be employed for the purposes of this Programme.

Requirement 4 – Weights must be submitted between 01st January 2020 and the 1st of November 2020 in accordance with Annex 1.

Participants should carefully read Annex 1 for further details on this action

7.2.1 Meal Feeding pre-weaning and post weaning.

Introduce meal feeding for a period of 4 weeks pre-weaning and 2 weeks post weaning to reduce the stress on calves at weaning time and record action.

Calves 7 must be supplemented with compound feeding stuffs containing appropriate minerals and vitamins.

Participants should carefully read Annex 2 for further details on this action.

OR 7.2.2 Vaccination Implement a Vaccination programme for respiratory diseases in suckler calves for respiratory diseases and record details of vaccination.

Participants should carefully read Annex 3 for further details on this action.

7.2 Action 3; Faecal Egg Testing

Faecal Egg Testing is targeted at the control of liver fluke in adult suckler cows.

Samples must be taken and submitted to approved laboratories (these can be found on the Department website, here before the 01st of November 2020.

Participants should carefully read Annex 4 for further details on this action.

All of the above information is available on the department of Agriculture website

www.agriculture.gov.ie