The next phase of the Bovine Genetics Project (BGP) in Northern Ireland has been announced.
A new online livestock genetics portal and the eagerly-awaited cattle genotyping scheme were both launched today (Wednesday, May 13) at the Balmoral Show.
The BGP is a £60 million project, which is focused on delivering more accessible genetic information to farmers which will enable them to make more informed long term breeding decisions.
The BGP will be co-ordinated by SRG, working in tandem with DAERA.
The BGP user portal was officially launched by Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir, Sustainable Ruminant Genetics (SRG) and stakeholders who received a demonstration of the BGP services available to farmers.
Bovine Genetics Project
Welcoming the initiative, Minister Muir said: “This ambitious and transformative project, which is an exemplar of collaboration between government and industry, will support a more resilient, efficient and environmentally sustainable bovine livestock sector.
“This initiative is a good example of how we can use science and evidence for the benefit of the industry.”
The minister added that another “significant milestone” for the project will see the roll-out of the DAERA-funded cattle genotyping scheme, which will commence in September this year.
“This world-leading scheme will enable herd owners to improve the accuracy of breeding decisions by identifying traits, such as feed efficiency and health-related characteristics, at an earlier stage,” he said.
Farmers can now register for the BGP and access the user portal via the SRG website.
Herd owners can access information on individual animal and herd performance, thereby using science, data and information to support more informed management decisions.
The information features indicators related to environmental sustainability, economic performance and animal health.
Sustainable Ruminant Genetics
Commenting on the official opening of the new portal, SRG chair Victor Chestnutt said that farmers can now go online, register the interest in the scheme and order their new ear tags.
He added: “Payments back to herd owners, covering the investment made in the new tags, will commence in October.”
Significantly, the genomic database generated in Northern Ireland complements that which has already been developed across the rest of the island.
John Moore, chief executive of SRG, confirmed that the new programme has been pitched at a level that will encourage its comprehensive uptake.
He explained: “Comprehensive training will be provided so as to ensure that farmers make best use of the data sets that are generated by the new programme.
“But the bottom line is this: making optimal use of the genomic data that becomes available over the coming years is of paramount importance if real and meaningful efficiency-related improvements are to be secured within the beef and dairy industries.”
Significantly, Victor Chestnutt stressed that the new technologies brought to bear within BGP will be extended to include the sheep sector at some future date.
He said: “Minister Muir has already been made very aware of this matter.”
Training
The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is currently delivering training on how to use the portal to industry professionals including farm consultants and agents.
CAFRE will also be providing training to farmers from September 2026 which will be delivered through a combination of online and face-to-face formats.
Additional reporting by Kathleen O’Sullivan