Age of cows for Beef Data Scheme?

Western Pomise

Thinking of reducing cow nos before entering Beef Data Scheme (my circumstances allow it)....
Did I see it mentioned somewhere that they are recommending that you should not keep cows born before 2008?.....
Some of best cows I have both re consistent breeding of good calves and actual star ratings are around 2007/2008 born.

Thanks for any opinions.

Kovu

I think that was one of the original specifications for the scheme; they wanted no cow older than six years to count. But now it's changed and the age of the cow doesn't matter any more so you can work away with them.

Oh but by 2020, I think 50% of your animals using the reference year numbers must be born after 2013. At the moment your animals are ok though.

Western Pomise

Kovu wrote: »

I think that was one of the original specifications for the scheme; they wanted no cow older than six years to count. But now it's changed and the age of the cow doesn't matter any more so you can work away with them.

Oh but by 2020, I think 50% of your animals using the reference year numbers must be born after 2013. At the moment your animals are ok though.

Thanks Kovu....can anyone else confirm Kovus first point.?
.......would only intend keeping about 5 cows so with that 2020 target I would breed or buy a few to meet it comfortably.

Kovu

Western Pomise wrote: »

Thanks Kovu....can anyone else confirm Kovus first point.?
.......would only intend keeping about 5 cows so with that 2020 target I would breed or buy a few to meet it comfortably.

I'll see if I can dig out a link in a bit, have to go get fluke dose in town now

Kovu

Programme applicants are required to ensure that a percentage of their heifers/eligible suckler cows
(rounded to the nearest animal) are genotyped females that are:
(i) 4 or 5 stars on the replacement index (on a within breed or on a cross breed basis) at the time of
purchase (for heifers brought into the herd) or at the time of genotyping (for those replacements bred
within the herd). Where a non-genotyped replacement heifer is purchased, this animal must be
subsequently genotyped and confirmed 4 or 5 stars on the replacement index (on a within or an
across breed basis) before being deemed eligible for the Programme.
(ii) at least 16 months old and;
(iii) born in 2013 or later.
The number of heifers/eligible suckler cows meeting these requirements on each holding on 31st October
2018 must be equivalent to 20% of the number of the applicant’s reference animals (advised to
applicants upon acceptance into the Programme), and on 31st October 2020 must be equivalent to 50% of
the number of the applicant’s reference animals.

Ok, this may help, you will need to have 20% of your animals born in 2013 or after by 2018, then 50% by 2020. So you can have half of them 20 years old if you like, so long as you meet the required number of youngsters.

Western Pomise

Thanks a million Kovu....in fairness they seem to have 'watered down' the criteria a bit from what is was when initially introduced.....or is that my imagination?
So if I was planning on keeping 4 cows from this yr technically only one would need to be 4/5 star and born from 2013 to satisfy 20% requirement for 2018....my heifirs/cows would easily meet that currently so that's grand.

Kovu

Western Pomise wrote: »

Thanks a million Kovu....in fairness they seem to have 'watered down' the criteria a bit from what is was when initially introduced.....or is that my imagination?
So if I was planning on keeping 4 cows from this yr technically only one would need to be 4/5 star and born from 2013 to satisfy 20% requirement for 2018....my heifirs/cows would easily meet that currently so that's grand.

Yup, that would be correct I'd say.