The Bovine Genetics Project (BGP) Genotyping Scheme launches this day next week on the 1st of September 2026, giving farmers across Northern Ireland access to subsidised genotyping for their cattle.
If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time to get set up so you are ready to start genotyping your animals from launch day.
How do I register?
Registration is completed through the SRG User Portal, using your existing Government Gateway or NIDA login.
Once logged into the portal, you will be able to register for the BGP Genotyping Scheme. The registration process will ask you to:
Step 1:
- Read and Accept the BGP Terms and Conditions
Step 2:
- Read and Accept the Genotyping Scheme Terms and Conditions
- Select your Genotyping Lab
- Nominate your Tag Supplier
Step 3:
- Provide your Bank Details
Step 4:
- Submit and Complete your registration
Why do I need to provide my bank details?
We know farmers may wonder why bank details are required when registering for a subsidised scheme.
Your bank details are required to set up a Direct Debit for payment of your genotyping costs. This means payments will come out by direct debit when you send your samples to the lab.
You will not be charged simply for registering for the scheme. Your account will only be charged when a sample is received by the SRG partner laboratory for processing.
The £13 DAERA subsidy is paid directly to the farmer to the bank account linked to the Business for your farm payments and is designed to cover the cost of genotyping and the associated DNA tag.
What happens after I register?
Once registered, your eligible animals will be available through the system (under Genotyping > Genotype Tag Selection) and your nominated tag supplier will be able to access your eligible animal list.
You can then order your DNA tissue sampling tags and begin sampling your eligible animals from the 1st of September.
From launch, the scheme covers existing breeding stock, including all females and any breeding males (registered as “B” on NIFAIS) born before 31st December 2026.
From 1st of January 2027, all calves born and registered on NIFAIS during 2027 will also be eligible for genotyping*.
*calves born from now until 1st January 2027 can be genotyped once they are either Female or registered as Bulls
Why genotype?
Genotyping gives farmers additional information about an animal’s genetic potential that cannot be seen simply by looking at the animal.
It can provide more reliable genetic evaluations, verify parentage and identify genetic information that can support decisions around breeding, replacements and herd improvement.
The aim is to help farmers make better-informed breeding decisions and identify genetic differences between animals that might otherwise go unnoticed, supporting greater productivity and profitability on farm over time.
Get registered now
With the scheme launching on the 1st of September, we encourage farmers to complete their registration now, select their tag supplier and get their DNA tags ordered so they are ready to start sampling from launch day.
Register through the SRG User Portal at www.srgni.com.
If you have any questions about registration or the Genotyping Scheme, contact the SRG team by filling out the contact form linked here and a member of the team will call you back or visit the BGP section of the SRG website.
