A new genotyping scheme for Northern Ireland’s cattle herds will open to breeding stock on 1 September 2026, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has announced. Genotyping of all calves, male and female, will follow from 1 January 2027.

The Bovine Genetics Genotyping Scheme will cover the full cost of £13 per animal for additional tags and genotyping. Farmers can register through the Sustainable Ruminant Genetics website at srgni.com or by contacting an approved tag supplier.

The scheme aims to improve genetic merit and production efficiency across the dairy herd. One farm already using genotyping is that of Albert Wallace and his son William, who milk around 115 cows near Tobermore. Their herd averaged 11,600 litres at 4.48% butterfat and 3.64% protein in the past year, producing 940 kg of milk solids per cow.

Data from their milk processor, accessed through the SRG Dairy Herd Performance Report, placed the Wallace herd in the top 4% of producers for milk yield and the top 3% for combined fat and protein yield. The herd’s average of 799 kg of fat and protein per cow compared with an average of 572 kg across other herds.

The Wallaces have used sexed semen for 17 years and have genotyped heifer calves for the past six years to obtain earlier and more accurate assessments of genetic merit. Cows and heifers are ranked on profitable lifetime index (£PLI), with those scoring above £300 bred to Holstein and the remainder inseminated with a beef straw. The herd has been milked by a robot since 2019.

Albert Wallace noted that the SRG genetic report identified cows carrying the A2 gene for beta casein and the BB gene for kappa casein, traits linked to easier digestion of milk and higher cheese yield. He said these animals could be used to breed the next generation of replacements.

Registration for the Bovine Genetics Project is available now at srgni.com or by calling 028 2046 2280.