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There is a big fear among some suckler farmers that you are aiming to breed much smaller mature cows. Is that true?
MD: We want efficient suckler cows on Irish farms. If a 500kg cow can deliver the same output as a 1,000kg cow, then that’s what we want.
On whole-herd performance data, if everyone wanted to join, has the ICBF the capability to carry out the work?
MD: No, we don’t. But remember, only 20% of beef farmers were involved in linear scoring and, as a business, you can’t carry spare capacity for no work.
Is it fair to say the ICBF has failed to get more weighing data in from Irish suckler farms?
MD: It’s slow but it is still the key source of data from suckler farms and will be into the future. We have a network in place.
We often hear farmers complain about big changes in the star ratings, about five-star animals turning into one-star animals overnight. Can this happen?
MD: Yes, but over 96% of animals stay where they are. You need to get movement because that’s what it’s about, making improvements.
Should beef finishers be able to select five-star stock to allow them pay more for better quality?
MD: Yes. I will be doing my best to evolve to a situation where this is up on screens in marts.
ICBF funding: why not allow commercial companies fund the ICBF?
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