Dr. Andrew Cromie:

I will pick up on the exports issue in the context of the question on the wider data, which Deputy Ó Cuív also asked. Exports are not a cause of concern primarily because we get data on the exported calves. As part of the scheme, participants are required to record calf docility and calf quality. At the end of the day we find a very high correlation between the farmer's recorded calf quality and price per kilo in the mart. For the calves traded through marts that are exported, we get the weights. In circumstances where the exporters are buying them in a sale. we get the price per kilo. We have a lot of data on exported calves and it is certainly not a concern that where a farmer or suckler herd owner is exporting his calves, the value of his cows are undervalued or undermined in any way.. I hope that answers that question.

Deputy Ó Cuív sought clarification as to the data we get from marts. The central cattle breeding database has a live link with the 70 or so marts throughout the county. With the co-operation of the marts, in addition to the mart movements, we also get information on the weights and prices per kilo of all animals traded. Those data are used directly in genetic evaluations. We run evaluations about three times a year based on the data from marts. We would have about 3 million records of the weight of animals.

The Deputy asked about qualitative versus quantitative data. On the question of quantitative data, we would be dealing with the meat processors who provide us with data on every animal that is slaughtered. There are approximately 5.5 million to 6 million carcass records and genetic evaluations and 3 million live weight records. We have quantitative data on the calving interval, which is based on the cow calving dates and cow survival. We have about 3 million calving interval records. We have a very good handle on female traits.

In terms of some of the qualitative data, which is from the farmer's recorded data, we have about 12 million calving survey records. We have data on calf docility, calf quality, cow milk score and cow docility. These data have been recorded through the beef data programme originating in the suckler herd. We have a couple of million records for each of those traits.

An interesting observation in the context of the traits and heritability is that an issue that is a constant cause of concern for people is that farmers record just anything. If that were the case, there is no way we could estimate genetic evaluations or pick up heritabilities. Heritabilities are based on consistency. Deputy Aylward used the example of the breed Cottage Devon, but the bottom line is that every farmer finds those calves difficult to calve. That generates a heritability, because one knows that a certain breed of sire is easier than another and there is a difference which is known as variation. That genetic variation expressed as a proportion of the total is heritability. The farmer recorded data generate very good heritabilities. As a consequence we see it as a key component of the scheme. In terms of our objectives, we can get farmers to record data for traits such as cow docility. Can one image how one would collect data on cow docility if one had to put staff on the road to collect those data? These are critical data in the context of health and safety on farms. We also collect data on stock bull docility. We could not put people on the road to collect that information from 30,000 farms. Roughly speaking it would cost €80 to send an official to a farm to collect data. The objective of the scheme is to get the farmers to record the data. Another aspect is that the farmers are part of the scheme because they are recording data on their animals and they buy in to the scheme.