I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 203 together.
The Dairy Beef Welfare scheme as part of the new CSP has an annual budget of €5 million and enhances the integration between the dairy and beef systems by improving the value of the dairy beef calf to the beef farmer, and improving the welfare of the calf, by supporting the use of high DBI (dairy beef index) sires in the production of dairy beef calves.
The requirement for a minimum rating of three stars on the DBI does not preclude the use of pedigree sires.
In the case of the beef data and genomics programme (BDGP), the proportion of high indexed sires used by participants from the pedigree herd under the Eurostar index was 97% at the end of the programme according to ICBF. This demonstrates that the pedigree bull remains integral to the development of the national herd in the context of improvement of genetic merit.
The new Dairy Beef Calf Welfare scheme was developed following extensive discussions during the development of the CSP and I am satisfied that the current design represents the optimal strategic support for the dairy beef sector through increasing the value of the dairy beef calf to the beef farmer.
