As the year progresses, weight recording is being conducted around the country for schemes such as the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme Sucklers (BEEP-S) and the Dairy Beef Calf Programme, according to the ICBF.

Going by ICBF figures, so far in 2021, close to 382,000 weights have been recorded as part of BEEP-S and just over 21,000 for the Dairy Beef Calf Programme.

The objective of the BEEP-S is to "further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd through improvement in the quantity and quality of data that is collected", the federation notes.

The programme targets the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves through the collection of the live weights of cows and progeny in the herd, the ICBF says, adding:

For herds in the BEEP-S or Dairy Beef Calf Programme, it is a requirement to register scales details unless renting a scales through the rental network.

To arrange the rental of a scales, participant farmers should go to www.mybeep.ie, the federation advises.

In further tips for participants, the ICBF notes five things to remember:

In terms of recording the weights, farmers have a number of options to submit figures to the ICBF.

Participants can use the ICBF's weight recording app, the ICBF website, suitable farm software or by submitting weights via paper forms.