I have made it clear in recent public statements that I see a need for an improvement in the quality of Irish cattle as measured against the EUROP carcass classification grid. However, primary responsibility for brining about this improvement rests with the beef industry itself through better breeding and husbandry practices which, I believe, can best be encouraged through a more effective graded pricing system at meat factory level. While this is essentially a matter for the industry itself, I have asked the beef task force monitoring committee to progress the issue of graded pricing. The recent trial on mechanical classification, which was supported by my Department, and the current moves at EU level to set the standards to be met by mechanical classification systems, should facilitate this process.
On the breeding front, Teagasc has recently undertaken a series of demonstrations around the country to promote better breeding. Teagasc is now also using focused programmes to proactively promote the production of quality beef on a cost effective profitable basis using efficient breeding and feeding systems. In addition, the pooling of resources and expertise in the cattle breeding area to form the recently established Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, ICBF, is providing a real opportunity to make significant progress in developing the breed characteristics of our beef cattle.
One of the main objectives of ICBF is to improve the genetic merit of the national herd, particularly by improving genetic evaluation and information on breeding quality. Breeding objectives are being clearly defined in the context of changing market requirements and farming systems. ICBF is working to identify our top bulls through genetic evaluation and the use of sophisticated IT systems. It will then be for all the relevant interests in the industry to promote the widespread use of those selected bulls. I am satisfied that, if properly implemented, all these measures should assist farmers to produce higher grading beef more efficiently.