Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2014
248. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason money is being withdrawn by the factories for the Sheep Ireland fund in view of the fact that this fund is of no help whatever to commercial farmers who are trying to make a living out of sheep; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42869/14]
View answerSheep Ireland was established in 2008, following extensive consultation with the sheep industry. Its aim is to achieve the greatest possible improvement, from genetic and other factors, in the profitability of the national sheep flock for the benefit of Irish farmers and the sheep industry. Sheep Ireland was formed as a sister company to ICBF, based on the recommendation from the Malone report which proposed a way forward for sheep breeding in Ireland along similar lines to that achieved by ICBF for cattle breeding. This included an industry based decision making structure and a database to meet the information needs of the sheep breeding sector and the wider industry.
Sheep Ireland commenced operations in 2009. Key developments in that year included the following:
- The creation of the Sheep Ireland database and the establishment of breeding objectives and selection criteria for sheep in Ireland;
- The establishment of LambPlus, which is the performance recording scheme for ram breeders, the formation of the maternal lamb producers programme, and a central progeny testing system.
My Department has been providing funding towards the establishment of the infrastructure necessary to establish a world class breeding programme since the inception of Sheep Ireland. A permanent representative Board structure for Sheep Ireland was put in place. Following extensive industry consultation in 2011 and 2012 an agreement was reached with stakeholders on a voluntary levy of seven cents per head on all sheep slaughtering as a co-funding mechanism.
Sheep Ireland is leading the development of a National Sheep Breed improvement programme, working with pedigree breeders to improve the quality of rams being supplied to commercial farmers. Sheep Ireland has managed to increase the number of pedigree breeders participating in performance recording to almost 500, thereby identifying the most profitable breeding stock. Usage of these highly selected genetically superior males and females has had a major positive effect in commercial flocks across the country.
Sheep Ireland also plays a central role in providing breeding values for rams for the Sheep Technology Adoption Programme, rams that eventually end up in commercial flocks.
