Breed societies have delivered a damning indictment of the new Whole Herd Performance Recording (WHPR) programme. Asked for its views on the programme, the Hereford Society said it is a “waste of time, expensive, troublesome to breeders and unlikely to achieve much”.

The Shorthorn Society said that while it welcomes improvements to the recording of data, it still has concerns over the programme.

The Limousin Society has “proactively” embraced the programme, while the Simmental Society has reserved judgment on it saying the society is “working through the (programme) to see where additional changes or improvements can be made”.

In a series of detailed questions by the Irish Farmers Journal to each of the main pedigree societies on their views of the WHPR, the majority of those who responded expressed concern with the programme.

The main breed societies provided answers except for the Irish Charolais Cattle Society and the Irish Belgian Blue Cattle Society. They both refused to provide answers to the questions.

The WHPR is a new recording programme for pedigree beef farmers to ensure the accurate recording of data to include in genetic evaluations.

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ICBF Whole Herd Performance Recording Programme - the detail