ICBF Storage Infrastructure Enhancement Case Study

This case study details the collaboration between the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) and Softcat to enhance the storage infrastructure necessary for managing genetic data. ICBF, which oversees the national bovine database, faced challenges due to increasing data volumes from the National Genotyping Programme, necessitating an upgrade from their existing 180TB storage system. The project aimed to deliver a scalable solution quickly to meet government reporting deadlines and support farmers effectively. Softcat implemented a high-performance storage solution using NetApp technology, providing over 300TB of initial capacity, which was later expanded. The deployment included Cisco networking components to ensure connectivity and resilience. Despite supply chain challenges, Softcat managed to keep the project on schedule. The new infrastructure significantly improved data processing speeds, allowing ICBF to conduct faster genetic evaluations, which are crucial for national agricultural programs. The case study illustrates the operational and strategic benefits of the upgraded system for ICBF and the broader agricultural sector.