Dr. Andrew Cromie:

Yes, it has to be both and I will outline the rationale for this. On an ongoing basis one trains one's genotype or DNA against the data to ensure that every year one gets the most accurate picture and constantly updates one's predictions equations. If we want to do such work, and if we develop the research project in 2014, and then ask farmers to genotype their animals, by the time we reach 2020 we would be providing genomic predictions that are based on data that was collected six or seven years earlier. Therefore, the accuracy of one's prediction equations is reduced. Genomics is all about how do we, with confidence, identify the most profitable animals for farmers for breeding, whether that breeding be males or females. That is why the scheme has been designed to marry the genotyping with the data recording element on the farm.

The second part of the scheme, in the context of the 60%, is that we must ensure that all potential candidate animals that will enter the breeding herd are genotyped. Quality has been one of the major challenges in the industry. I mean by this that we have not brought enough four and five-star animals into the herd and we have been too focused on output and determining traits. Invariably, the wrong types of females are coming into the suckler herd and that is why the maternal traits are moving in the wrong direction. Having said all that one could argue that it is as much value to genotype one and two-star animals - the poor animals - because it would ensure that they get pushed out of the system and do not come back into the suckler herd. Also, genotyping helps us to identify the genes that relate to poor performance because those are the genes that we want to push out of the suckler herd.

Let me explain the strategy and rationale for having a 60% rate. Some people have suggested that the scheme was an opportunity to increase the percentage or whatever. The percentage was based on the research work done in 2014 and on the understanding of what this science or technology can deliver.