Mr. Sean Coughlan:

There is absolutely no reason that is required. There is more than enough in the current indexes. The reality is that if we look at the make-up of the national suckler herd from 2008 to 2022, the breed profile has not changed. If anything, there are a few percent less Angus and Hereford and perhaps a couple percent less first-cross in the dairy herd. The make-up of the population has remained the same. We have seen in the advent of BDGP that people using Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, Angus, Hereford – whatever breed they want – have been able to make progress.

We talk about the numbers of the breed representation on the active bull and that is a red herring. Commercial suckler farmers have a preferred choice that they have stuck with over the past 15 years since 2008 - in the time period for which we have decent records. They are choosing to stay with the continentals and they will still be able to choose. They might have to choose a slightly different bull if they are breeding their replacements. However, the representation of the traditional breeds on the active bull list has always been more than their representation. Prior to the recent changes, there were still 30 or 40 Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn bulls on the active bull list yet the representation of national cow population is only 20%. It is the same on dairy, sheep and across the species. Farmers like a breed and will stick with it.