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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

Beef data and genomics scheme

Summary

Senator Mullen asks the Government to explain farmer withdrawals from the beef data and genomics scheme and stresses its importance for breeding quality.

-----to explain the beef data and genomics scheme from which many farmers have withdrawn in recent times. This is very important for the quality of beef output in the country. Many fine farmers believe the scheme is not worth the trouble or they do not buy into it because they have not found themselves in agreement that this is important in improving the quality of beef outputs. Many farmers look at finishing traits, but they do not necessarily take into account the traits of the mother and other factors in cattle breeding. That is most important if we are to have long-term development in the quality of beef output. It took many years to achieve this in the dairy sector and perhaps the Department is trying to achieve it in a very short period in the beef industry. It would be good if the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine came to the House to discuss this important programme as we wish to hear how it is progressing, why the Government believes farmers have been pulling out of it and what it intends to do about this.

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