Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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214. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the beef data and genomics scheme if he supports the concerns of pedigree breeders that the rules limit the possibility of importation of foreign bulls to help improve the genetics of the Irish pedigree herd; his views on whether the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, in pursuing this policy, will cause stagnation in the Irish herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27655/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and will provide suckler farmers in Ireland with funding of some €300 million over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics in recent years, and will ultimately bring about long-term improvements to the sector by fundamentally improving the genetic quality of the beef herd. One of the requirements of the programme stipulates that from 30th June 2016, at least 80% of the AI used on participating holdings must be from 4 or 5 star bulls on either the terminal or replacement index. This complements the requirement that where a stock bull is used, at least one stock bull on the holding on the 30th June 2019 must be a genotyped 4 or 5 star bull on either the terminal or replacement index.

There is a very wide range of AI bulls available for pedigree beef breeding that are 4 or 5 stars on either the replacement or terminal index. For example, ICBF recently completed its listing of recommended sires for bull breeders involved in the Gene Ireland maternal beef breeding program. In total there are some 164 bulls in that catalogue of which 151 (92%) are 4 or 5 stars on either the replacement or terminal index within or across breeds.

There is no restriction on using imported sires under the scheme provided they receive a 4 or 5 star rating from the ICBF. The ICBF calculates a euro star evaluation for imported sires based on their foreign data so that they can be utilised under the scheme and the ICBF is engaging with its counterparts in other countries with a view to increasing access to the genotypes and the relevant data used in these evaluations. The approach used for assigning this rating is in line with that used for all other bulls under the eurostar rating system and it is important that any rating is based on objective, scientific criteria which the ICBF can justify to each and every farmer using such bulls. Indeed, the ICBF can provide an indication of the likely euro star rating to be given to such bulls in advance of importation into Ireland and I would urge pedigree breeders to avail of the services of the ICBF in this regard. Furthermore, the fact that 20% of the AI used can come from other types of bulls also gives scope for pedigree breeders that wish to use some outcross sires that do not meet the criteria of the scheme.