Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

188. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated for the new beef environmental economic pilot scheme in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3275/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In the Budget 2019, I secured an allocation of €20 million for the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP).  This measure is targeted at suckler farmers and is aimed at further improving the economic and environmental efficiency of beef production.

The Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) will target the weaning efficiency of suckler cows and calves by measuring the liveweight of the calf at weaning as a percentage of the cow's liveweight. This data will be used to target improvements on a herd basis by giving the farmer detailed feedback on the performance of individual animals. The data collected will also be a valuable addition to Ireland's already impressive database on cattle genomics.

This measure builds on existing measures aimed at enhancing the sustainability and carbon efficiency of the national suckler herd.  Further details on the pilot will issue shortly.