Alterations would see farmers lose €40,000 each year

As with every new year, beef producers will encounter both new and old challenges in 2017.

Autumn calving suckler herds will soon begin breeding. Just like in the dairy herd, cows need to be in positive energy in order to achieve a good conception rate.

Entrants to the new Beef Data and Genomics Programme will be free to subsequently withdraw once they get back data on their own herd, said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.