Written answers

Wednesday, 18 May 2005

Department of Agriculture and Food

Cattle Breeding Programmes

9:00 pm

Photo of John EllisJohn Ellis (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 248: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the funding allocated by her Department in 2005 to promote quality breeding among cattle. [16554/05]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Up to the 1990s my Department operated a series of cattle breed improvement measures including milk recording, on-farm weight recording, genetic evaluations, development of livestock improvement programmes, and the management of the central bull performance testing station at Tully, County Kildare. In the 1990s, a series of initiatives was taken to reduce the Department's involvement in cattle breeding improvement and, at the same time, to provide a structure that would facilitate more rapid genetic gains in the Irish herd. A feasibility study, funded under the operational programme for agriculture, rural development and forestry, OPARDF, in 1995 confirmed an industry-led proactive approach to cattle breed improvement with State leadership and involvement as the best way forward. This led to the establishment in 1997 of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, an organisation mainly controlled by the industry. Responsibility for most cattle breed improvement programmes operated previously by the Department and their associated costs have transferred to ICBF.

In addition to taking over functions from the Department of Agriculture and Food, ICBF has made a great deal of progress in the collection, storage and retrieval of the data that are essential for cattle breeding. ICBF has re-organised database systems used for cattle breeding in a way that eliminates duplication and facilitates the efficient collection of a wider range of accurate information than was the case heretofore. The current database offers greatly increased functionality compared with that offered by previous systems. ICBF is delivering to the industry and to farmers improved information on which they can make decisions based on knowledge. This is of increasing importance in the current era of decoupling.

My Department has provided ongoing substantial financial assistance to ICBF since its inception in 1997 by way of grant aid and under the national development plan, under the cattle breeding infrastructures submeasure and previously under the OPARDF, the predecessor to the NDP. Given the important contribution ICBF continues to make to ongoing improvements in cattle breeding in Ireland, I have made provision in this year's Estimate for €888,000 for ICBF in grant aid and €500,000 in NDP funding.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.