The National Genotyping Programme was introduced in 2023 with the goal of being the first step on the road to having a fully genotyped national herd. The Programme is a world first in using DNA samples as part of calf registrations to verify parentage and provide genomic evaluations for newborn calves.
We recently hit the major Milestone of having the 1 millionth calf registered through the NGP. The calf was born on Aidan McKeogh’s suckler farm near Killaloe County Clare. Aidan has been participating in the programme since it was introduced in 2023, all stock on the farm are fully genotyped and every calf born on the farm is genotyped at birth using double tissue tags. Aidan is well over half way through calving now with the calving starting this year at the end of January.
Aidan runs a 25 cow suckler herd in a 100% spring calving system and also works off farm so time management and labour saving is crucial. Aidan has been partaking in SCEP and as part of that is required to genotype 70% of his reference number each year. By sampling animals at birth, He doesn’t have to wait for button tags or hair-cards for SCEP and then round up and bring in animals for sampling at a later stage. It is also much safer and easier to tag and sample newborn animals than more mature animals.
In terms of breeding, Aidan has used a lot of AI over the years to produce high quality, high index replacements for his own herd and for selling as breeding heifers. On cows he doesn’t want a replacement from he opts for high terminal index bulls to produce quality progeny for selling. The average replacement index of the cows in the herd is €123 which ranks the herd in the top 10% nationally.
Looking at the sires of his 2024 calves, Aidan used 11 different AI sires which an average replacement index of €120, average terminal index of €113 with a carcass weight Average PTA 24kg. He uses a wide variety of breeds from AI including Limousin, Saler, Charolais, Angus and Simmental.
The National Genotyping Programme has not only made meeting sampling requirements for SCEP easier for Aidan it also provides him with more information for making decisions around breeding by verifying which AI bull the calf is from and also providing genomic evaluations for the calves at a young age. Animals sampled at birth, receive genomic evaluations at a young age, increasing the reliability of their Eurostar figures well before they are selected/sold for breeding and confirming their eligibility for SCEP.
NGP Stats 2025:
To date 542,000 animals have been genotyped under NGP25.
Of these animals tested:
- 71,000 sire errors were prevented (13%)
- 33,000 dam errors were prevented (6%)
- 3,8000 sires were predicted where farmer had not provided the sire (7%)
- 15,000 breed errors were prevented (3%)
- 8,000 sex errors were prevented (1.5%)
- 96% of animals are now dam verified
- 95% of animals are now sire verified
The National Genotyping Programme continues to deliver tangible benefits for Irish farmers, improving data accuracy, reducing labour, and enhancing breeding decisions from the moment calves are born. Hitting the milestone of one million calves genotyped is a testament to the Programme’s success and farmer engagement to date. With strong participation and growing impact, the NGP is contributing to a more efficient, informed, and sustainable future for Irish cattle breeding.