As of this week, there have now been 1 million calves genotyped as part of the National Genotyping Programme (NGP) since it launched in June of 2023.

In the latest update on the programme, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) said that 432,612 calf samples have been received in the lab to date in 2025.

This week, which is week 11 of 2025, the ICBF has seen a reduction in the volume of samples going through the genotyping lab.

Also, as of the week ending March 14, 2025, the total number of calf registrations was just under the 1 million mark with 986,419 calves registered in 2025.

There were 58,389 calf samples received into the genotyping labs this week and 82,360 calf samples were processed in the lab.

The average time from birth to sample being received in the lab was 8.3 days.

The average time a sample spent in the lab was 4.3 days according to the ICBF and the average turnaround time from birth to passports being issued remains at 13 days.

The ICBF have urged farmers to contact their nominated tag supplier to order more envelopes if they are running low to avoid any potential delays in receiving your NGP results

Total calf registrations are down by 46,278 head from the same period last year with 1,032,797 head registered this time last year.

The later calving date nationally is partially responsible for calf registrations being behind as many farmers pulled back their calving start date due to the poor weather experienced in February in recent years with poor grass growth rates.

The later calving date allows farmers to turn cows out to grass in more favourable ground and growing conditions, potentially suiting the grass growth curve on the farm better in many cases.

Total dairy birth and beef birth registrations are still behind from this time last year, however, there were 11,405 more dairy registration this week than the same period last year which shows that the later calving pattern is beginning to take its toll.

There was a total of 143,535 calf registrations this week which is 10,517 more calves registered this week than the same period last year.