Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the two representatives from the ICBF to the meeting. I understand that 30,000 farmers have signed up to the scheme thus far. However, having spoken to many farmers, I am afraid that many people still are wary of this proposal and do not know enough about it. While people may have signed up, they are thinking of pulling out and may not go ahead with the full plan, which is a worry. The Minister told me in a reply to a parliamentary question that in respect of the stock bull replacement requirement, he does not consider there to be any risk of inbreeding as a result of the requirements and that the majority of stock bulls on reference year herds are already four or five stars. Can the witnesses give members a guarantee that this will be the case two or three years down the line? This is why I worry about inbreeding, especially in respect of artificial insemination, where I am told there are only one or two Charolais in the entire AI system that are four or five-star at present. If there are only one or two bulls, will we have inbreeding within a couple of years because only one bull is available at present?

A wide range of four-star and five-star bulls are available for pedigree beef breeding on the replacement and terminal index. How many of these could be given to a pedigree Charolais breeder to produce four-star or five-star animals? I have put this question to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, because I know of a Charolais breeder who got best price for a heifer in the Tullamore show last year based on a three-star rating. He has been building that herd for the past 20 years but he is being told that the best animal he produced last year only has a three-star rating.

The ICBF recently completed a listing of recommended sires for bull breeders involved in a gene Ireland maternal beef breeding programme. It found that 92% of animals on the replacement or terminal index were rated four or five stars, which again brings the rating system into question. Many farmers have concerns about these young and unproven bulls. The case of the sire Cottage Devon springs to mind. He nearly broke many farmers because they found him impossible to calf. The only people who made money off him were the veterinarians. Farmers will not be happy to put pedigree heifers under an unproven bull in something that resembles a lucky dip system. What assurances can the witnesses give in that regard?

I also have concerns about the export of animals, which I previously raised with departmental officials. The Minister has stated that under the new scheme all herdowners will be required to record data on calf quality and docility. What farmer in his right mind will record an animal as poor quality or hostile? I have never seen a farmer advertise animals for sale in such a manner. How will we be able to record accurate information? The Minister has noted in reply to a parliamentary question that the ICBF collects data on the weights and prices recorded for a large volume of animals sold through livestock marts prior to export. This additional data help to improve the accuracy of indexes. A considerable number of calves for export are simply weighed in a group of five to ten animals. How can the mother of those animals be credited if they are weighed as a group? This bulk weighing does not reflect the value of an individual animal given that a super May calf might be weighed alongside a September calf which obviously varies in age and weight. How does the cow get the appropriate star rating for producing a top quality weaning calf?

Last year pedigree breeders had to wait six months to receive their certification to export animals. Some simply got rid of their calves without the data. What will happen now that there are 25,000 to 30,000 farmers? Are there sufficient advisers in Teagasc to manage the scheme?