From:Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has today launched the New Equine Herd Profiles and the Equine Census 2026. The Equine Herd Profiles mark another significant step in equine traceability and welfare, by linking every equine to a physical location, a responsible person and tracking movements from birth to death or export.

Equine Herd Profiles are an operator’s view into the New Central Equine Database of the equines that are deemed to be under their care and control and linked to their Equine Premises Registration Number (EPRN). As part of the Equine Census 2026 Operators will receive a hard copy of their Equine Herd Profile.

Minister Heydon stated that the launch of the New Equine Herd Profiles underscores the Government’s continued commitment to improving equine traceability and welfare:

“We said we'd act on the Wall Report — and we have. The New Equine Herd Profiles are proof that this Government listens to the equine sector and delivers for it. Ireland's horse industry is world-renowned, and we intend to keep it that way. Smarter traceability, stronger enforcement, and better technology are all part of how we protect this sector's reputation and back its growth."

Operators can check their profile and complete their census return by registering with MyAgfood.ie. Operators need to ensure that their profile is up to date, by reporting movements of equines on to or off their establishment.

- Complete the 2026 Equine Census (31 July)

The Equine Herd Profiles reflect nine traceability checkpoints in the equine traceability system where an active equine premises number or database check is carried out. These include registrations, accessing veterinary medicines, registration updates, access to grant aid, export checks, inspections, entering sales catalogues, the census and death notification. Prior to 2024, there were just three traceability checkpoints.