Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Two months ago, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, board changed and rearranged the star rating of suckler cow beef breeds, downgrading four and five star Charolais, Limousin, Simmental and Belgian Blue breeds, which Irish farmers have bred to perfection over the past 40 years and, in the same way, promoting Dexter and other dairy breeds to four and five stars. The same cow and bull that have a four or a five star rated calf last year will only have a two or a three star rated calf next year. That is the silly change that has been made. The bulls being elevated to the top of the replacement index will have a major negative impact on both the carcass weight and the weaning weight that farmers can produce. This, in turn, affects farm viability and the quality aesthetics of Irish beef farmers. These changes are a failure resulting from non-communication and a failure of governance. Who recommended the changes? Who was consulted on the changes? Who verified the efficacy of the changes? Who approved the changes? Was the board aware of the severity of the changes before it made them? I am calling for the disbandment of this board-----

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