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Gnáthamharc

Animal Diseases.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 May 2006

Wednesday, 3 May 2006

Ceisteanna (311)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

370 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she is taking to reduce inheritable wind disease in national hunt stallions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16136/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Under the provisions of The European Communities (Equine Stud-Book and Competition) Regulations 2004, SI 399 of 2004, I am empowered to grant approval to a person, an international association or organisation for the purposes of maintaining a stud-book subject to compliance with the requirements of the relevant legislation in force. Weatherbys Ireland GSB Limited is the organisation approved to maintain the Thoroughbred studbook in which National Hunt stallions in Ireland are registered.

The legislation provides for keepers of approved stud-books to divide the main section of their stud-book into classes according to the animal's merits. An approved stud-book can, therefore, choose to assign animals with a known genetic defect (such as the inheritance of wind disease) to a lower class in the studbook in order to discourage breeding from such animals. Accordingly, I do not propose to interfere in the day to day business of approved stud book keeping organisations.

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