Dear N. Ireland Irish Moiled breeder
The Northern Ireland BGP (Bovine Genetics Project) was recently launched at Balmoral show. The project is led by SRG (Sustainable Ruminant Genetics). Through the BGP, herdowners are provided with the information they need to make more informed management decisions through the SRG User Portal available on the SRG website.
Under the NI Bovine Genetics Genotyping Scheme, farmers will be eligible for subsidised genotyping from September 2026, initially covering all breeding animals (both breeding males and females). From 1 January 2027, the scheme will extend to include every calf registered on NIFAIS during 2027.
To sign-up to the Genotyping Scheme herd-owners must first register for the Bovine Genetics Project (BGP). Herd-owners can register for the BGP on the SRG NI website at www.srgni.com. Herd-owners will log in using their Government Gateway or NIDA login.
Once you have signed up to the BGP you can register for the Genotyping Scheme following the steps below:
- Opt in to the Genotyping Scheme and accept the Terms and Conditions.
- Select a laboratory from the approved laboratory list.
- If selecting the SRG partner laboratory, enter your Direct Debit details. Payments of £11 per animal for genotyping will only be collected once samples arrive at the laboratory.
- Nominate a tag supplier to provide access to your list of eligible animals.
- Eligible animals will be automatically identified within the system.
- Order your DNA tissue sampling tags directly from your chosen tag supplier, your chosen tag supplier will have a list of all your eligible animals.
- Begin genotyping eligible animals from 1 September 2026
- Once the Department of Agriculture receives a valid genotype for animals, the farmer will be reimbursed £13 into their single farm payment account covering the costs of £11 for the genotype and £2 for the tissue tag. This reimbursement will be done either monthly or once per quarter.
SRG User Portal
Logging in
Follow these steps on the SRG website:
1.Go to www.srgni.com
2.Select the Log In button at the top of the screen
3.Login using your Government Gateway or NIDA details
Services available on the User Portal Farmers will be able to access;
Herd Profiles – Here farmers can view their herd information and profiles such as their Genomics profile, Co-op profile and many more.
Record Events – Here farmers can record herd information such as liveweight, birth events etc.
Reports – Farmers can access reports on their herd such as Calving Reports etc.
The Irish Moiled Cattle Society encourages all its members to sign up to the new Genotyping Scheme. All calves born in 2027, their breeders will be able to avail of the 100% subsidy grant on genotyping which includes DNA parentage verification through the NI Bovine Genetics Genotyping Scheme and so it will reduce calf pedigree registration costs paid to the Irish Moiled Cattle Society to £22.50 for females and £52.50 for bulls from the normal rate of £50 and £75 respectively. So, from the 1st January 2027, this will mean 2 tissue tags are applied to newly born calves; 1 for BVD, colour coded white and 1 for genotyping, colour coded pink. The pink tissue samples will go into the pink coded envelopes, and the white tissue samples will go into the white coded envelopes which will be provided by your tag supplier at the time of collecting your new tags. Farmers will have the responsibility of posting the envelopes to the relevant lab.
As the scheme commences on 1st September 2026, initially covering all breeding animals (both breeding males and females), breeders who are imminently going to register calves born in 2026 should hold off and have these calves genotyped through the scheme in September. The above savings will apply. For these animals a 3rd replacement tissue tag will have to be applied. Your tag supplier will keep you right and supply you with the correct tissue tags and envelopes to post the samples. These tags can be bought in August but please be vigilant that the samples do not reach the lab before 1st September as samples that reach the lab before then will not be reimbursed.
Even better news for some breeders that are not up to date with pedigree registrations, as the Society for its Centenary year have abolished all late registration penalties and so from September to December 2026 will be a one-off unique window to have older animals’ pedigree registered at a much-reduced rate. The above rates of £22.50 for females and £52.50 for bulls will still apply compared to £100 for females over 9 months old and £150 for bulls over 18 months old if the Society’s centenary deal and the BGP genotypes subsidy deal could not be availed off.
For the Irish Moiled Cattle Society to work in conjunction with the BGP and SRG organisations each breeder in N. Ireland will have to complete and sign an authorisation form to allow the IMCS to access each breeder’s herd profile on the SRG portal. Please see the form attached and return to the Breed Secretary, Gillian Steele.