The EuroStar Index has been “very emotive” but has also been “extremely effective in actually getting farmers engaged”, according to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) CEO Sean Coughlan.
Speaking at the launch of the Sustainable Ruminant Genetics (SRG) Strategy and Communications Framework document in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, on Tuesday (February 17), the ICBF CEO gave delegates at the event his perspective on cattle performance indexes.
He said: “There’s a real balancing act in it. You’re really trying to – on one hand – not over simplify it and having one figure that in lots of cases drives people crazy.
“On the other hand, the risk is you have it too complicated and people disengage.”
The launch event was attended by representatives from many of the key livestock industry stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
“One of the things is obviously the EuroStars that we have south of the border has been very emotive but has also been extremely effective at getting farmers engaged.”
“What we have found is that not only the people involved in the scheme want to purchase a five-star animal, the people that are not that engaged still have this thing in their head that they want to purchase a five-star animal.
“It does drive genetic gain. It also drives a lot of frustration because you could make it too simple so there’s a balance to be found there,” Coughlan said.
He also admitted that “a lot of mistakes were made” in the rollout of national cattle performance indexes in the Republic of Ireland.
“Breeding is a very emotive business and that can be good and that can be bad. We certainly had plenty of controversy and plenty of hassle over the while.
“I do think that energy and that passion people have for breeding is something we really have to tap into and we can tap into,” Coughlan added.
“The tools that are now becoming available with genomics, I think we have to use those.
“I think we can really align the incentives. I wouldn’t underestimate the ability for farmers to take on what to many of us is a daunting technology,” the ICBF CEO said.
