Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was at a mart on Saturday last where I watched sales of weanling cattle. I was struck by the high quality of what was being produced, both from the suckler herd and from calf to beef. This was reflected in the number of interested buyers. I accept the Deputy's comments on buyers with whom he has engaged. The beef data genomics programme is an effort to improve the genetic merit of the herd through better fertility, earlier finishing of cattle and so forth, all of which are important.

The BDGP benefits approximately 25,000 farmers, of whom an estimated 800 are below the 20% requirement for four or five star breeding females that must be reached by 2020. This is not an alarming number. The Department, in conjunction with the Irish Cattle Breeders Federation, will hold a series of public meetings to create greater awareness of the obligations under the scheme well in advance of the deadline. No scheme is perfect and communications can always be improved. I am sure the meetings will assist farmers in that regard.

As a direction of travel, the beef data genomics programme has the potential to do on the beef side what the economic breeding index, EBI, has done on the dairy side for many years. It will be a long process which will require an ongoing commitment from the industry to genetic improvement. The programme makes a start and can achieve much more.

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