Review of Ireland's 2015-2021 Beef Data Genomics Programme

The Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP) is part of the Irish Rural Development Programme (RDP) and its evaluation covers the period of 2015-2021.

The BDGP has been operating in Ireland since 2015. The programme is co-funded by the European Commission and the Irish exchequer, with EUR 294 million spent on participant payments and training costs. A centralised database is key to the programme with data fed into a star-based genomic breeding index that informs breeding-related decisions. The objectives of the BDGP are to first improve the genetic merits of the national beef herd through the collection of data and genotypes of selected animals, which allow for the application of genomic selection in the beef herd, and, secondly, to lower the intensity of GHG emissions by improving the quality and efficiency of the national beef herd.

A spending review paper on the BDGP published in 2019 showed preliminary evidence of positive gains towards the objectives and clear alignment with other interacting policies. However, it was necessary to update this analysis to evaluate continued progress and inform any potential new scheme designed for the next CAP.

The report was based on available descriptive data. The methodology employed focused on aggregated rather than individual farm-level impacts and used key performance indicators (KPIs) and sustainability metrics to design indicators.

The data sources came from the Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) and other statistics provided by Teagasc.

This paper analyses the evidence for trends in key indicators for relevant outcome variables, following a Programme Logic Model as with the previous review in 2019. This ensures a consistent methodology between the two papers. However, the analysis focuses on aggregated data instead of individual farm-level data, so the findings must be interpreted as averages, and the results at the individual farm level will vary. Nonetheless, the results illustrate the overall trends compared to the baseline to highlight the changes induced by actions required under the scheme and how this contributes to the database, which is a key tool for the further development of the sector.

According to the findings, payments amounting to over EUR 285 million have been issued to 2021. An average of approximately 22 600 farmers were enrolled each year between 2016 and 2020, and around 491 500 suckler cows were enrolled in 2021 - equivalent to more than half the total number of suckler cows in the country.

Descriptive data shows that BDGP participants generally tend to farm larger areas, hold higher numbers of stock, produce more output and earn higher incomes on average when compared with non-BDGP participants or the overall population of beef farmers.

In addition, BDGP participants tend to have larger emissions profiles in absolute terms, but their unit emissions efficiency is generally superior and has improved faster than that of other farms since the scheme was introduced.

The trends in genetic gain have been steadily increasing for BDGP herds over the period of the scheme and have been built on the initial gains reported in the previous review. Non-BDGP participants also continue to benefit from a positive spill-over effect, although at a slower rate than BDGP farms, due to the availability of superior genetics for breeding overall.

In relation to KPIs, the calving intervals have shortened, the number of calves per cow per year has increased, the percentage of heifers calving before 26 months old has increased and the age of first calving has decreased. These are all in line with the objectives of the programme and reflect a continuation of progress as reported in the previous review.

Lastly, the review highlights that the use of the 'Carbon Navigator' tool helped to build awareness of the environmental performance of production. Analysis completed by the ICBF shows that if current genetic merit trends continue, the sector could emit 67.8 kilotonnes (2%) less CO2-equivalent in 2030 compared to 2020 for a constant population level. Further benefits could also accrue, including output, gross emissions and emissions intensity per cow. A sensitivity analysis showed that mitigation in 2030 and 2035 could be further increased if the rate of genetic gain accelerates beyond its current trajectory, highlighting the scheme's benefit versus the counterfactual of no scheme in place.