Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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842. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consideration his Department has given to encouraging the integration of the beef and dairy sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46040/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is important that livestock farmers have as many options as possible to improve their viability, with this in mind, I am very conscious of the importance of developing closer integration of the beef and dairy systems and my Department have engaged in a number of initiatives to support this. In Budget 2021, provision was made for the introduction of a dairy beef pilot programme. The objective of the pilot programme which was launched in April 2021, is to both build on the gains of previous BEEP schemes in terms of weight/performance recording, and to facilitate further integration of the dairy and beef systems, by providing support for farmers who are rearing progeny from the dairy herd.

Another initiative aimed at creating greater integration between the beef and dairy systems is the development of the Dairy Beef Index (DBI). This was developed by ICBF to promote high quality beef cattle bred from the dairy herd, while maintaining optimal dairy traits. As the data set underpinning this index increases, so does the reliability and usefulness of the index to farmers as a decision making tool and as a mechanism to provide greater integration between dairy and beef systems. With the development of the ICBF’s Dairy Beef Index, data from ICBF show that genetic trends for beef traits have improved for beef sires, reassuring farmers that these beef-dairy calves have improved beef potential.

A support for a dairy beef calf welfare has been proposed as part of the development of Ireland's CAP strategic plan (CSP). A public consultation on the draft interventions proposed for the CSP has recently ended and the submissions received are being reviewed. I will continue to consult on the content of the plan with the key stakeholders, through the CAP Consultative Committee and through additional public consultation later in the year.

I can assure the deputy that my Department and I are committed to supporting the enhanced integration of the dairy and beef sectors.

This approach is reflected in 'Food Vision 2030', the stakeholder-led strategy for the sustainable development of the sector over the next decade. Food Vision includes the following action under a Goal aimed at improving the competitiveness and productivity of primary producers:

Mission 2, Goal 1, Action 1:

'promote greater integration of the dairy and beef sectors, especially in relation to the production of beef coming from the dairy sector'.