Significant enhancements to the Republic of Ireland's National Genotype Programme (NGP), aimed at increasing the level of participation in the scheme.

Irish Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, said that, to date, more than 33,000 sheep have been genotyped under the current programme.

The Minister confirmed that details of a compulsory breeding programme were being finalised and the changes to the NGP announced this week were intended to encourage both pedigree and non-pedigree breeders to have sheep, in particular their rams, genotyped in anticipation of the introduction of the compulsory breeding programme.

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Source: Farming Life, David McCoy
August 20, 2005

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