Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Animal Events Book?

The Animal Events book can be used instead of the white cards to officially register calves. In order to be eligible for the Suckler Scheme, you must register your calves using the Animal Events book.

Why do I need to use the Animal Events book instead of the White Cards?

The Animal Events book allows you to record a calf’s sire and the calving survey of calving (i.e. difficulty of calving). These are requirements under the Suckler Scheme and it is not possible to record them on the white card.

Do I need to register all my calves using Animal Events to be eligible for the Suckler Scheme?

Yes. To be eligible for Suckler Scheme you must register all of the calvings in your herd using Animal Events.You do not need to use white cards any longer, even though they will arrive in your box of tags.

Can I register my calves using both Animal Events and the white cards?

NO. You cannot register a calf using 2 methods.

Do I have to wait until I have 10 calves on the sheet?

No. You don’t have to have 10 calves to return a sheet.
It is a good idea to record the first calf of the season on a sheet of its own to get used to the new process.

What does “Dead Calf” column mean?

This is only used for calves, which are dead. Be careful with this column!
Circling means that it the cow had an abortion

Circlingmeans that it the calf was dead at birth

If the calf was alive at birth do not circle either of these values.

Where do I record other Suckler scheme events i.e. (disbudding, castration, weaning, meal-feeding)?

Sheets for recording this data will be sent to you once calves have been registered.

Who do I contact if I have queries about the Suckler Scheme, aside from Animal Events queries?

Contact the Department of Agriculture on 1890 252 707

What do I do with the white card that comes with the tags?

NOTHING. If you are participating in the Suckler Scheme, you should not fill out the white cards. You must register ALL CALVES (including dead calves) using the ICBF Animal Events.

Do I need to keep the white cards?

No, unless you do not have an Animal Events book.

Where do I send my completed Animal Events sheets (i.e. completed pages from Animal Events book) when they are filled out?

Freepost envelopes are included with each Animal Events book and more may be obtained on request by ringing the Helpline number 1850 625 626. Alternatively, just put the sheets in an envelope with the following address – no stamp is required.

Animal Events Agency,
PO Box 72,
Clonakilty,
Freepost,
Co. Cork.

Who do I contact if I have a problem whilst filling out the Animal Events Book?

1. If at any stage you have a problem with your Animal Events book, call the Animal Events Helpline on 1850 625 626 during office hours.
2. A Teagasc advisor will also be able to assist you.

Can I use breed code HF to record a Hereford breed?

No. The breed code for Hereford is HE.  The breed code for Holstein Friesian is FR.

How do I register Dead or Aborted Calves

Dead or Aborted calves must be registered.

How do I register a calf which was dead at birth?

a) Use a new Animal Events sheet i.e. a separate one from other calvings.
b) Complete the sheet as normal and circlein the Dead Calf Column.
c) Ensure the Animal events sheet is returned to the Cattle Movement Notification Agency, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, so that the calf is registered.

How do I register an aborted calf?

a) Use a new Animal Events sheet i.e. a separate one from other calvings.
b) Complete the sheet as normal and circlein the Dead Calf Column.
c) Ensure the Animal events sheet is returned to the Cattle Movement Notification Agency, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, so that the calf is registered.

What happens after I register a dead or aborted calf?

When you register a dead or aborted calf, the Department of Agriculture will issue you with a ‘Dead Calf Certificate’.

Possible Issues with the Sire of the Calf

What do I do if I don’t know the Sire of the Calf?

You might not know the sire of the calf if:

• You buy an in-calf cow and can’t find out the sire of the calf:

The system will know if you have bought the cow after she went in calf and you will not be penalised for not recording the sire.

• You had more than 1 stock bull with the cows and they were the same breed (e.g. two Herefords):

The system will know if you had more than 1 bull of the same breed and you will not be penalised for not recording the sire.

• Can I use a neighbours Bull

Yes. You can use a neighbours bull but you must get the Tag No. of the Bull and must be CMMS compliant and Disease Eradication compliant.

What if the Sire is not a pedigree bull?

You should still register the Sire of the calf.

Possible Issues with the Animal Events Book

How do I know if I have correctly completed an Animal Events sheet?

If you have correctly completed an Animal Events sheet and returned it to the Animal Events Agency then you should receive an Animal Passport (blue card) for the animal within 3 – 4 working days. If there was a problem you will receive a correction form within 3 – 4 working days.

Who do I contact when my Animal Events book runs out of pages?

The Animal Events Office will know when the Animal Events book is nearly finished and will automatically send out a new Animal Events book. If for some reason this does not happen, contact the Animal Events Helpline 1850 625 626.

Who do I contact if my Animal Events book is lost or destroyed?

If you ring 1850 625 626 you can order a new Animal Events book.

Is it permitted to use sheets from another herd owners Animal Events book?

Absolutely NOT. If you use the Animal Events book of another herd owner, your calves will not be registered.

If I buy or sell animals, should I record this through Animal Events?

NO. You cannot use the Animal Events book to register an animal movement. You have to use a movement permit.

Farm Software Packages

Can I record Animal events through my farm software package?

Yes. Calf registration and other required data recording for Suckler Scheme can be done using farm software packages. Ensure that the data is being sent to ICBF.

What do I do if I have a farm software package?

Simply record the data as normal in the package, and ensure the data is sent to ICBF.

If I have a problem with my software package and need to register calves?

Contact your software provider for further assistance