Deadline nears for submitting cattle weight data

Farmers participating in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) or the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme should note that the deadline for submitting cattle weight data to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is swiftly approaching.

Under the National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme, applicants are required to weigh between five and fifty eligible calves. These calves must be at least 12 weeks old at weighing and registered in the applicant’s herd for a minimum of ten days prior. All weights must be recorded using registered weighing scales and submitted within seven days of weighing, no later than 17:30 on 1 November 2026.

For those in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme, participants must weigh at least 80% of eligible animals born on their holding during the scheme year, together with their dams, on the same day. Each calf must be unweaned, a minimum of 50 days old, born and raised on the holding, and weighed using registered scales. Weight data must be submitted within seven days and no later than 1 November annually. Further information on each scheme is available through official channels.