32,000 beef farmers participate in training for animal welfare scheme

MORE than 32,000 beef farmers have participated in the Teagasc training sessions required for the suckler cow animal welfare scheme.

Teagasc provided more than 200 training sessions for producers who have applied for the €80 per head payment under the Animal Welfare, Recording and Breeding Scheme administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

These training sessions, which are compulsory for producers participating in the scheme, were provided countrywide by the Teagasc advisory service.

More than 46,000 farmers of the 55,000 registered participants in the scheme were invited to a Teagasc event over the past three months. In some individual Teagasc units, up to 85% of the farmers invited participated and further sessions are taking place for those who were unable to attend at the time.

Teagasc beef specialist Pearse Kelly said the scheme provides important income support for suckler farmers. The training helps producers to improve herd health and assists farmers to produce quality beef in a profitable and animal welfare-friendly way.

“We are delighted with the positive response from farmers. In some counties, in excess of 80% of all the farmers in the scheme completed the Teagasc training,” he said.

Teagasc dry stock programme manager Bernard Smyth said the increased participation in animal events recording is a direct result of the Animal Welfare, Recording and Breeding Scheme.

It will ensure much faster breed improvement in the beef herd in future and improve reliability of breeding values, he said.

In 2008, there was an increase of over 500,000 calving performance records as well as more than 400,000 new docility and calf performance data for beef weanlings.

Additional information on mart weights and slaughter weights and grades will continue to flow into the system which is essential data to help rank the breeding merit of our beef herd.

Mr Smyth said it is imperative from 2009 to continue the high level of participation in the scheme, if farmers are to reap maximum benefits from improved breeding.