On this week’s episode of the Dairy Edge, Mark Waters, Co-ordinator of the DNA Registration Project at ICBF joins Stuart Child to discuss the National Genotyping scheme that was launched recently by the Minister for Agriculture.

Mark starts by telling us exactly what genotyping is and what it has to offer both farmers and the industry as a whole. 

He says that it is hard to overstate the value of genotyping and that the big thing will be the rate of gain that will be achievable. This has the potential to allow for more palatable actions with regard to climate change targets compared to some of the actions that are currently being suggested, such as a large scale reduction in animal numbers .

Mark then explains how farmers can sign up for the scheme, what they have to do in 2023 and what is expected from 2024 onwards when the DNA registration process will start in earnest.

Finally, Mark highlights that the purpose of the scheme is to genotype the existing herd to allow for the DNA registration process to become a reality and that people are committing to this when signing up. 

It is imperative that people take samples and return them in a timely manner to facilitate preparation for the DNA registration next spring.    

For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: 

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com