asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied with the present position in regard to the progeny testing of A.1. bulls.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Progeny Testing of Bulls
4.
I consider that the A.I. stations are making reasonable progress in the progeny testing of their dairy bulls. They are of course receiving a subvention from my Department towards the cost of progeny recorders, 28 of whom are at present employed by the nine stations.
Is the Minister aware that, even though the service has been in existence since 1948, there is not even one bull fully progeny tested in the Dublin area?
As the Deputy knows, progeny testing takes some time.
It does not take anything like that time.
It does not take 14 years.
It might, you know.
It would not.
He would be a very elderly bull, if you were progeny testing him for 14 years.
The whole idea is to look after his progeny, not the bull himself.
Discovering the value of his progeny, after you have buried the bull, is not a very useful exercise.
Of course, it is not.
Does the Minister consider that four recorders are sufficient to do the recording in an area stretching from Wexford to Dublin?
I could not answer that question.