DEAR SIR

For suckler farmers to be asked to cap their numbers to reduce greenhouse gases for what is primarily a grassland enterprise is ridiculous.

With the average suckler herd less than 20 cows and the dairy herd driving up numbers, how does this make sense?

Why target the suckler herd to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for livestock?

I have been assured on numerous occasions that it has nothing to do with displacing the suckler herd in order to facilitate the continued expansion of the dairy herd.

So it must be then that the suckler herd is guilty of producing more greenhouse gas emissions than the dairy herd!

If so, I have seen no research or science of any kind into this from the Department or Teagasc or anyone else for that matter, so here goes.

1 Calf from dairy herd to rear: One bag of milk replacer, milked from a cow, cooled in tank, collected in truck and transported to plant. Produced into milk powder, put in plastic bags, transported back to co-ops, collected by farmer, put in calf feeder and fed to calves. Add in 50kg of processed calf ration. How can this be a carbon-efficient way to produce beef?

2 Calf from suckler herd: milk produced on site and fed on site. No transport, no energy, no packing, very little ration. Continental calves are up to 20% more feed efficient. More kilos of meat produced per animal and this animal is guilty of producing more greenhouse gases!

Come on minister, let’s do a bit of research.