SCEP: Your Essential Guide to Genotyping Requirements and Deadlines

Staying on top of your SCEP requirements is essential to maximise your SCEP payment. Below is a simple breakdown of what every herd owner needs to know for the year ahead.

1. Reference Number

For scheme year 4 of SCEP you must calve at least 50% of your reference number between 01st July 2025 and 30th June 2026 and you must return genotypes for 70% of your reference number by 30th Nov 2026.

Example – A herd with an annual reference number of 30 will need to:

  • Have at least 15 calves born in the scheme year (01st July 2025 – 30th June 2026).
  • Return genotypes for 21 animals by Nov 2026.

Where you are not calving enough to meet your herds genotyping requirement and all other beef stock are genotyped, there is an option available to reduce your herds annual reference number. This will reduce your genotyping requirement for the scheme year. This will be available to review until the 12th February 2026 via Agfood. DAFM has contacted herds by text. Call 0578674422 or email [email protected] with queries.

2. Genotyping Requirement

Every herd must genotype 70% of their reference number and have samples returned by 30th Nov 2026.

3. Extra Samples

If a herd returns more samples than their requirement in a year, the extra samples can’t roll over to the next year.

4. Keep Track

For samples to be counted towards your genotyping requirement they must be received in the lab by 30th Nov 2026. You can check your progress on the ICBF homepage/HerdPlus app.

5. Order tags

The web screen to allow non NGP herds to select animals for SCEP genotyping is due to open in late February. This will allow a herd to view/change animals that are selected for genotyping. This is only available on desktop version. SCEP participants will receive a text when this facility is available for their herd.

6. Selling animals

Make sure that enough samples are taken before animals leave the herd. Check that samples are marked as received in the lab before they leave the herd. If you have not received samples for your animals and are selling animals imminently, please contact ICBF.