Professor Alex Evans:

Genomics is a fancy word for genetics, and genetics are at the core of animal improvement. The suckler scene, like all other animal-based industries, provides great opportunity for improvement. The big challenge with it is in understanding what is being improved. A good description of the animals is required for it to be successful. Weight gain is a simple measure. If not enough farmers in Ireland weigh their animals to find out which genes give a faster growing animal then the genomics scheme will not work properly. On the surface, it is definitely a fantastic concept, and farmers in Ireland will benefit, but it will take a concerted effort by many people. Without that joined-up thinking, it will not work as well, but the friction of the joined-up thinking is being worked through at the moment. I am a big fan of it, but it is not easy.