I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together.
The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) was launched on 5 May and my Department received almost 30,000 applications by the extended closing date of 5 June. The Programme forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and allocates funding of some €300 million over the next six years to suckler farmers in Ireland. The BDGP builds on the large strategic investment in data recording and genomics which has been made in recent years, and will ultimately bring about fundamental improvements to the entire sector by substantially improving the genetic quality of the national beef herd.
As the deputy is aware, the BDGP will compensate participants for the cost incurred and income foregone in undertaking a number of actions such as genotyping, data collection and the introduction of animals with a higher genetic merit. It is not correct to say that exported animals are excluded from the BDGP as all of the required actions, including data recording and genotyping, can be carried out in herds which export some of their progeny to markets outside of Ireland.
As is the case for all herds in the BDGP, these participants will be required to record key data on all male and female calves, regardless of whether they are planned for export or not, on an annual basis for important traits such as calf quality, calf docility and health and disease traits, as well as information on the sires and the dams of these calves. All of this data will be integrated into the National genomic evaluation system resulting in more accurate Eurostar evaluations to the benefit of the farmer himself, including those that are in the business of exporting calves, and the wider industry. As such, the data collected through the BDGP is central to ensuring that the value of these exported animals is accurately reflected in the indexes and that suckler herds producing animals for export are not excluded from the programme.
In addition, it should be noted that the ICBF also collects data regarding the weights and prices recorded for a large volume of these animals which are sold through livestock marts prior to export, which again provides additional data to go towards improving the accuracy of the indexes. In addition, ICBF are committed to working with exporters, buyers and processors in the third country markets which take live exports of cattle from Ireland in order to collect additional. This will help assist ICBF in accurately representing the value of these animals through the indexes developed.
