Written answers

Thursday, 19 June 2014

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Beef Data Programme

Photo of Thomas PringleThomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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16. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the details of the beef data and genomics programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26131/14]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I announced details of some of the measures under consideration in the in the new Rural Development programme (RDP) on 13thMay last. I expect to be in a position to submit the draft RDP to the European Commission for evaluation and approval shortly.

The proposed Beef Data and Genomics Programme is, subject to Commission approval, intended to deliver an accelerated improvement in the quality and environmental sustainability of the beef herd through the application of genomics technology. This will help farmers to maximise productivity in a sustainable way, while supporting improved quality and traceability in the national suckler herd, as set out under the Food Harvest (FH) 2020 strategy.

The programme will provide support to farmers to take samples for genotyping from selected animals in their herds and to provide vital breeding data to support the development of a national cattle breeding databank. The data will provide farmers with the tools to select higher quality and more efficient breeding replacements through the use of cutting edge genomic technology. The selection of more efficient animals with the right genetics for easy calving and high weight gain thereafter, that can be finished earlier, will have a substantial environmental dividend and will also contribute to improving productivity, reducing input costs and improving margins for farmers.

Improved knowledge on the genetic merit of an animal should facilitate more informed on-farm selection decisions with the eventual outcome of increased genetic gain for a range of performance traits and therefore greater farm profitability. Using data gained from the implementation of genomic selection in Irish dairy cattle since 2009, genomic selection is expected to increase genetic gain by up to 50%; however this is dependent on good accuracy of selection for which the main requirement is individual animal performance data on a very large number of animals of known parentage.

Some €295 million has provisionally been allocated for BDGP and payments will, subject to the approval of the programme by the EU commission, be paid to farmers for work carried out, including the development of a herd breeding plan, training and transaction costs. Among the activities being considered for the programme are the:

- recording of animal events,

- recording of a range of performance criteria,

- taking and sending for laboratory testing tissue (DNA) samples from selected animals, and

- selection of high quality replacement bulls and heifers over the five period of their BDGP contract.

Officials in my Department are currently in discussions with the EU Commission on the final details of the programme and it will be some time before the final details are known.

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