Barry Cowen
Question:100. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide costings on a €200 beef genomic scheme in 2015. [36332/14]
View answerThursday, 25 September 2014
Questions (100)
Written answers
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme has been developed as part of the draft Rural Development Plan submitted to the European Commission in July of 2014. It is currently the subject of discussion with the European Commission whose agreement is required before the scheme and the RDP can come into force. The proposed Beef Data and Genomics Programme is intended to deliver an accelerated improvement in the quality and environmental sustainability of the beef herd through the application of genomics technology. This will help farmers to maximise productivity in a sustainable way, while supporting improved quality and traceability in the national suckler herd, as set out under the Food Harvest 2020 strategy.
The programme will provide support to farmers to take samples for genotyping from selected animals in their herds and to provide vital breeding data to support the development of a national cattle breeding databank. This data will then be returned to farmers in respect of their own animals and will provide them with the tools to select higher quality and more efficient breeding replacements based on criteria such as ease of calving, high weight gain thereafter, and animals that can be finished earlier. The scheme will have a substantial environmental dividend while improving productivity, reducing input costs and improving margins for farmers.
Payments will, subject to the approval of the programme by the EU Commission, be paid to farmers for work carried out, including the development of a herd breeding plan, training and transaction costs. Among the activities being considered for the programme are the:
- recording of animal events,
- recording of a range of performance criteria,
- taking and sending for laboratory testing tissue (DNA) samples from selected animals, and
- selection of high quality replacement bulls and heifers over the period of their BDGP contract.
- Completion of an on-farm Carbon Navigator.
A budget of €295 million has been allocated in the draft proposal sent to the Commission. This €80 is calculated, in accordance with EU requirements, on the basis of the cost incurred and the income foregone by the farmer in completing the actions required under the scheme. Officials in my Department are currently in discussions with the EU Commission on the final details of the programme.