Getting your SCEP female replacement strategy right
Beef Specialist at Teagasc, David Argue takes a closer look at the SCEP female replacement strategy targets. Is your herd on track?
The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) includes five mandatory actions; one of the most critical is Action 2, the Female Replacement Strategy. This element of the scheme requires farmers to ensure that a rising proportion of their replacement females carry high genetic merit by being genotyped as 4 or 5-star on the Replacement Index.
Key targets and timing:
- By 31 October 2023, at least 50% of your “yearly reference number” must be eligible females (4 or 5 star) at purchase or at the time of genotyping.
- By 31 October 2025, this increases to 65%.
- By 31 October 2027, the target rises further to 75%.
- Replacement females must be at least 16 months old at the time of purchase or genotyping.
These targets apply whether you breed your own replacements on farm or buy them in. If brought in, the females must already be genotyped 4 or 5 star and if they are home bred heifers, they must be genotyped to ensure they are eligible.
To make the most of your participation in the SCEP scheme, it’s important to follow all Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine SCEP requirements carefully. Each action within the scheme – from maintaining the necessary land area and achieving target calving rates to completing the required surveys – are important in ensuring full payment is granted. Failing to comply with any element may lead to a reduced or withheld payments. Farmers are encouraged to stay in regular contact with their Teagasc advisor to make sure they don’t miss out on any key dates or deadlines.
Tips for farmers:
- Plan your replacement female numbers well in advance to meet rising targets.
- Use ICBF tools and the Mart Tracker to locate SCEP-eligible heifer sales during October.
- If purchasing heifers, insist on genotype status before buying.
- If breeding your own heifers – genotype early to allow time to act if you are short on eligible heifers.
- Monitor your herd’s progress each year so you don’t fall short at the October deadlines.
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