asked the Minister for Agriculture how many bulls have been progeny tested by the Leinster Cattle Breeding Station; and what percentage of the total inseminations carried out by the Dublin District Milk Board have been eartagged with a view to progeny testing the heifers for milk yields and the bull calves for performance testing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Progeny Testing of Bulls.
33.
The Leinster Cattle Breeding Station have contributed to the progeny testing of 17 fully-tested bulls, of which four are at present standing at the station.
Only heifer calves from Friesian and Shorthorn inseminations are eartagged for progeny test purposes. The number of such heifer calves tagged in 1964 in the licensed area of the Leinster Cattle Breeding Station represented 11 per cent of the total Friesian and Shorthorn inseminations from the Station in 1963.
Is the Minister satisfied with 11 per cent eartagging if we want to qualify?
I am never satisfied with any given situation in agriculture and I am always trying to improve things.
Is the Minister taking any steps to have the 11 per cent increased?