Global breeding programs

Experiences from National Genotyping Program - Empowering Data-Driven Decisions in the Irish Beef and Dairy Industry

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Abstract

The National Genotyping Programme (NGP) is a five-year initiative launched in 2023 involving the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), the Irish Department of Agriculture (DAFM), milk and meat processors, and dairy and beef farmers. It aims to integrate large-scale genotyping at birth into the national cattle recording system, with the long-term objective of genotyping all Irish-born cattle. This paper outlines the outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned from this world-first national initiative and examines how this information enables data-driven decision-making at farm and industry levels. Since 2023, over 1.5 million animals have been genotyped at birth; parentage errors were corrected for 13.9% of sire and 6.3% of dam recordings, and sires were identified for 8.0% of calves without a farmer recorded sire based on genotype matching. Parentage and breed verification are performed using an ISAG and ICAR accredited 800 SNP panel on a customised 55k SNP chip. Once parentage verification and sex predictions have been confirmed, details are passed to DAFM for issuance of animal passports. The seasonal nature of Irish calving results in peak genotyping workloads during springtime, with weekly genotype samples reaching a peak of 90,000 in 2025. Rapid turnaround time from birth to passport is vital, particularly for dairy farmers who typically aim to sell calves before 42 days of age, beyond which a tuberculosis test is required. In 2025, the average interval from calf birth to passport issuance was 15.5 days (SD 2.2). Genotypes flow into a weekly genomic evaluation pipeline for dairy and beef evaluations. Genomic evaluations, major gene reports, and aneuploidy reports are made available to farmers via online platforms within weeks of birth. The information supports farmers in selecting replacement animals, future mating selections, and calf marketing decisions by providing early, verified genomic information rather than reliance on pedigree or phenotype alone. At a broader industry level, partner AI companies use early genomic evaluations to select genetically elite calves shortly after birth. Meat processors benefit from the programme through improved confidence in breed composition and enhanced meat traceability. Similarly for dairy cooperatives, access to herd-level genomic information and benchmarking of their farmers supports milk supply forecasting and delivery of sustainability commitments. Challenges include managing historic ancestry errors, meeting timelines from birth to passport and genomic evaluation, and maintaining database infrastructure to support the storage, tracking and genetic evaluation of over seven million genotypes. Overall, the programme demonstrates that national-scale birth genotyping is feasible and delivers timely genomic information that directly informs breeding, management, and market decisions, accelerates genetic gain, and supports long-term sustainability of the Irish beef and dairy industries.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Moynihan, A., McCarthy, J., Suter, J., Quigley, K. & Evans, R., (2026) “Experiences from National Genotyping Program - Empowering Data-Driven Decisions in the Irish Beef and Dairy Industry”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2286414. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.23993

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