Smith: Vital livestock breeders produce top quality animals

IT is vitally important for the livestock industry that breeders continue to produce top quality animals, according to Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith.

“It is premium products that are in demand on our prime export markets, and the future viability of our industry is heavily dependent on us growing our market share on these lucrative continental outlets,” he said.

Mr Smith said he was delighted with the progress being made by the breed associations and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation to make full use of the cattle-breeding infrastructure set up with the help of his department.