Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 6

Written Answers. - Cattle Breeding.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

55 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans, if any, he has to increase and develop the numbers of farmers producing high quality cattle for sale on the European market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5039/00]

(Mr. Walsh): There are a considerable number of farmers already involved in the production of high quality cattle. This number can best be increased by the introduction of partnership arrangements between meat plants and farmers. A more effective quality-based pricing system, with premium prices paid for top quality cattle, would also contribute to this development.

As far as my Department is concerned, I have used the flexibility available to me through the national envelope to encourage the production of high quality beef heifers. In addition, the dissemination of information to farmers about appropriate breeding and farming practices to meet the specific needs of the market place is an ongoing process supported by my Department through the beef improvement programmes as well as through the supervision of the beef carcass classification scheme. The recently established Irish cattle breeding federation is working to devise specific breeding objectives for beef cattle production in Ireland. In addition, Teagasc has made a valuable contribution in this area over a number of years providing extremely useful information on best practices for quality beef production.

Through all these developments, I am satisfied that significant improvements targeted on specific market requirements can be achieved by farmers producing high quality cattle.