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

Okay. I wish to comment on the beef data and genomics scheme, which I am in myself. I have raised this with the Minister and have spoken to the Department about it previously. We all tag calves at birth. I am talking about particular females for the genomics scheme. One uses one ear for a bovine viral diarrhoea, BVD, tag and one takes a sample. However, one is also putting a tag on the other side and it is a waste. It is not a waste, it is an identity tag, but I cannot understand why farmers such as me then have to go back in July and August and then - in my case for 20 cattle every year - put a third tag into them just for genomes. I am actually tagging a calf that is idle for the year.

I have said this several times and it makes common sense. One could have a big scheme, especially for the genomes and the genes. There could be a proper scheme whereby, if a farmer had a spare tag, every female animal in the country could be tested at birth. I cannot understand why they could not introduce such a scheme for a reasonable cost instead of a farmer having to bring in adult cattle and take 20 cattle samples every year which is another tag in an animal's ear when it could be done at birth, even for the animal's sake. It is so simple when one thinks about it; the BVDP tag could be in one ear and the genomic sample in the other ear, and the farmer is doing it anyway.