Dr. Andrew Cromie:

Yes. The Deputy is concerned that the programme is only starting now. We must think back. The underlying data that supports the programme began to be compiled in 2008 with the suckler cow welfare scheme. Since then, farmers have been collecting the data that underpins the scheme. This includes the sire date of calves and all the relevant data recorded on calf quality and docility. Last year's scheme gave us the genotype data. We are in a very strong position regarding launching the scheme with a level of confidence that with genomic evaluations, or using the genotype data in the Euro-Star evaluations, we can confidently give an indication to farmers regarding the four-star and five-star status of animals.

Although there is an expectation that at some stage, with genotype and other data, it will be 100% accurate, it is not the case. There is a natural plateau effect. Although with genomic evaluations, one can add so much genotype data, there will always be a level of uncertainty associated with genetic or genomic evaluations, until we reach 99% reliability, although that would be an artificial insemination sire with 10,000 progeny. Genotyping will not be able to deliver this. While it may be able to deliver a reliability in the order of 60% to 70%, it is nothing like 95% or 99%.