Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to make my case. The committee has had many presentations, which I welcome.

With regard to export issues, is it true that live exports are focused on top-quality animals? Do we need to focus more on the Friesian bullock? In the 1980s, especially in my part of the world in Cork, large numbers of Friesian store bullocks were exported to north Africa, the Middle East and other locations. The transportation of those bullocks off the island in many ways brought competition into the sector.

The kill number was heading towards 40,000 at one stage during the year - and it probably touched that figure. We are killing perhaps 10,000 too many animals. Is there an issue about trying to move the calf and the store bullock if the quality of the animal is not suitable for the agricultural sector itself?

Macra na Feirme made an interesting point about sexed semen. There are significant sexed semen trials, some of which I believe are happening again this week, that are examining changing the insemination time to a later part of the day. Will the proposals for sexed semen be part of the long-term solution? Vast numbers of Friesian bull calves are coming into the system, for which we do not have a market, be that market export-led or for calves or stores. We do not want them going to the factory. Is that the issue we need to work on? Not alone does the sexed semen have the advantage of an ability to put Friesian heifers into the dairy stock, farmers could also produce a quality Belgian Blue animal. This would be a suitable option for the beef trade and exports.

Do we need to focus more on technology to try to solve some of this and offer a solution? The trials this week involve several hundred cows being scanned in farms, particularly in the southern half of Ireland. These are important trials to see if we can get the semen issue sorted once and for all.

This is probably the two-handed approach. Too many of the poorer quality animals are going through to factories and too many are being killed. Until we have the competition from the stores or Friesian bulls moving in vast numbers and the knock-on effect of having sexed semen coming on board, that would be part of the solution.