Are you wondering how you can avoid costly calf registration errors and Bord Bia penalties?

As the busy spring season approaches, Irish farmers face the crucial task of registering their calves with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

While it may seem like a straightforward process, a study carried out by ICBF determined that over 15% of farmers make common mistakes relating to parentage and sex that can lead to serious consequences.

These errors are more than just an inconvenience, they can lead to inspections, penalties, and even prevent farmers from entering important schemes like the Beef Welfare Scheme and the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) to name a few.

In this article, we’ll explore the most frequent mistakes made by registering calves on paper and how to avoid them using the Herdwatch App which will reduce the number of clerical errors associated with paper records.

Let the Herdwatch App help you stay Bord Bia compliant and ensure fluid communication of records and schemes you may be a part of.

As humans, there is always room for error so it's important to be prepared ahead of the busy calving season.

Mistakes open doors for harsh consequences, which lead to flags in the department - an inconvenience no farmer needs in spring.

Farmers are being encouraged to switch digital records like Herdwatch to reduce human error and ensure and efficient use of your time.

One of the most common mistakes farmers make when registering calves is failing to do so within the required timeframe.

The deadline for registering calves with the department and Bord Bia is strict, and late submissions can lead to penalties.

According to Bord Bia guidelines, calves must be registered within 27 days of birth.

Missing this deadline can not only incur an inspection but may also prevent farmers from participating in certain schemes, such as the Beef Welfare Scheme, which provides financial support for calf health and welfare practices.

Registering calves on the Herdwatch app can be done in as little as 30 seconds straight from your mobile phone.

Farmers can create the calf profile for the correct cow, breeding information relating to the bull will come across automatically saving you having to go search for paper records and no internet is required.

The Herdwatch app ensures that no calf goes over the 27 days mark and allows you to batch register up to 10 calves in the one go.

Another common mistake is submitting incomplete or inaccurate information when registering calves. This could include errors in the calf’s date of birth, the dam’s tag number, or the sire breed or code.

Such inaccuracies may seem small, but they can delay the process and lead to issues to farmers who are looking to sell calves off farm on time.

Bord Bia requires that every calf has accurate and traceable parentage. If a calf is registered with incorrect parent details, it not only raises the risk of penalties but can also affect eligibility for schemes.

Registering calves on the Herdwatch app reduces the risk of human error relating to incorrect tag numbers, DOB and stock bull or AI details.

The app will automatically bring across the Bull used to serve the cow the previous year and enables farmers to save stock bull and AI codes to the cow’s profile.

The Herdwatch app will only provide tag numbers that you have in stock to reduce the risk of writing the incorrect tag number.

With a full team of customer support on hand there is always someone available to help you through with any issues before they become a penalty risk.

Another mistake farmers often make is not updating the system when calves are sold or moved.

If you sell or transfer ownership of a calf, it’s vital that this information is recorded with the department on time.

Failure to update the registration can result in the calf still appearing under your name, even after it has left your farm, which can cause confusion and errors in the farm's paperwork and the animals TB status.

Movement records can be updated in minutes using the Herdwatch app ensuring the correct number of animals are in your herd at all times.

Both movements on and off the farm can be recorded swiftly ensuring you remain compliant always.

If farmers are unsure about an animal’s status on the farm it can quickly be checked on the App reducing stress or the worry of being flagged by the department.

Furthermore, not updating a calf's health status, such as vaccinations or remedies administered can affect the overall compliance of your farm. Bord Bia takes biosecurity and animal health very seriously, and failing to keep your records up to date can trigger inspections and lead to penalties.

This is particularly important when entering any Bord Bia schemes such as SBLAS, Beef & Dairy Calf Welfare Scheme or SCEP as they often require up-to-date health and breeding records.

As the Herdwatch app is synced with ICBF and AgFoods, the records you input will be sent across to ensure you remain compliant for any scheme you may be a part of.

Similarly, if you are genotyping calves, this can all be done swiftly on the Herdwatch app and the status can be monitored from your phone.

Farmers who don’t fully understand the eligibility criteria for various schemes may submit incomplete records or fail to meet the necessary requirements, resulting in penalties or missed opportunities for financial support.

Farmers using the Herdwatch App are eligible for a pre-audit check where trained staff go through your digital records in detail and offer advice on areas that need improvement.

On the call, the Herdwatch Staff member will go through your herd reports, remedy purchases and treatments, movement records and more.

The pre-audit check is included as part of the PRO Complete Plan and is a vital tool in ensuring you pass any inspection and remain compliant.

If you would like to hear more about the Pre-Audit Check and join over 20,000 Farmers using the Herdwatch App, Get in touch today on 0505-34400 or download the app from the app store or play store and create your free account.