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Animal Breeding
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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- 1. Zootechnics and Recognised Establishments in the Zootechnical Field
- 2. Third parties authorised by the Competent Authority to carry out performance testing or genetic evaluation of breeding animals**
- 3. Operators recognised in other Member States which have officially notified their activities in Ireland
- 4. Semen Collection or Storage Centres and Embryo or Production Teams authorized to issue Zootechnical Certificates
- 5. Approved Establishments & Laboratories
- 6. Germinal Product Network
- 7. DAFM Supported Organisations in Animal Breeding
Satisfactory results in animal breeding depend to a large extent on the use of domestic animals of high genetic quality. Purebred animal breeding in Ireland is governed by rules and standards provided in EU Regulation. The current EU Animal Breeding Regulation is Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 and is applicable as of 1 November 2018. It outlines the rules and standards that must be followed to trade purebred breeding animals, hybrid breeding pigs or germinal products like semen, embryos or ova. It requires an organisation to be recognised as a breed society for purebred breeding animals or a breeding operation for hybrid breeding pigs and to have an approved breeding programme.
Further details on Zootechnics, links to EU Zootechnic legislation, EU/EEA counties and non-EU countries information can be found here
In order to comply with the requirements of the EU legislation, the following pages contain information on:
- Designated Competent Authority in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1012**
- Information concerning the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Animal Breeding Regulation’) in Ireland
Designated Competent Authority in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/1012
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Further Information on Breeders Organisations
Recognised Breed Societies for maintaining Purebred Animals of the Bovine Species
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Recognised Breed Societies for maintaining Purebred Breeding Animals of the Caprine Species
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Recognised Breeding Operations for Maintaining Breeding Registers for Hybrid Pigs
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Recognised Breed Societies for maintaining Purebred Breeding Animals of the Ovine Species
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Recognised Breed Societies for maintaining Purebred Breeding Animals of the Porcine Species
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Recognised Breed Societies for Maintaining Purebred Animals of the Equine Species
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Semen or Storage Centres and Embryo or Production Teams authorised to issue Zootechnical Certificates
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Further details on Zootechnics, links to EU Zootechnic legislation, EU/EEA counties and non-EU countries information can be found here
As provided by Article 27 (2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as the competent authority in Ireland, has authorised the following organisations to carry out performance testing or genetic evaluation for the following species;
Bovines:
Irish Cattle Breeding Federation
Address:
Link Road, Ballincollig, Co Cork. P31 D452
, P72 XO50
Website:
Email:
Phone number:
Ovines
Sheep Ireland
Address:
Link Road, Ballincollig, Co Cork. P31 D452
, P72 XO50
Website:
Email:
Phone number:
Operators recognised in other Member States which have officially notified their activities in Ireland
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Semen Collection or Storage Centres and Embryo or Production Teams authorized to issue Zootechnical Certiicates
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(a) Assembly Centres
(b) Dealers
(c) Semen Collection and Storage Centres
(d) Embryo Collection & Production Teams
(e) Quarantine Facilities or Centres
(f) Establishments for Poultry
List of Poultry Establishments under Council Directive 90/539
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(a) National Reference Laboratories
(b) Other Laboratories
Form HHC.3 District Veterinary Office Heard Health Certificate for Donors of Bovine Embryos
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DIY A.I. Licences
Persons wishing to practice artificial insemination in their bovine herd must be appropriately trained and licensed and ensure that only semen from approved sources is used in the process. No person other than the herdowner, or his/her nominee, who has satisfactorily completed an approved programme of training in the practice of artificial insemination, can be approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to carry out the inseminations within that herd.
Field Service Licences
Field Service Licence holders provide a year-round quality bovine artificial insemination service (A.I.) to farmers through a network of trained licenced A.I. technicians. Each Field Service Licence must:
- Ensure that good veterinary practices and procedures are adhered to;
- Utilise semen only from approved sources;
- Maintain satisfactory records; and
- Facilitate the recording, testing, genetic evaluation and publication of results of bulls used for test purposes.
A.I. Technicians Licences
The provision of a quality bovine A.I. service is ensured through the licensing of A.I. technicians employed by, or contracted to, Field Service Licence holders.
Bovine Distribution Semen Licences
Organisations or individuals must be appropriately licensed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to engage in the distribution of bovine semen thereby protecting animal health and welfare and traceability of the product.
Approval of Bovine Semen Storage Centres
Premises where bovine semen is stored must meet specified EU standards and must be placed under the permanent supervision of a centre veterinarian approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Please note persons intending to apply for an approval for a bovine semen storage centre are advised to contact the Department at the outset so as to obtain full information on the approval process.
Approval of Bovine Semen Collection Centres
Premises where semen is collected must meet specified EU standards and must be placed under the permanent supervision of a centre veterinarian approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Please note persons intending to apply for an approval for a bovine semen collection centre are advised to contact the Department at the outset so as to obtain full information on the approval process.
Approval of Bovine Ova/Embryo Collection or Production Teams
Only teams approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the purpose of producing and or collecting bovine ovas/embryos can operate such a service.
On-Farm Collection of Bovine Semen
Herdowners can preserve the bloodline of their bovine herd by having semen collected from their own herd for use within their own herd. Applicants or their employees for on-farm collection must have a D.I.Y. A.I. licence to store semen and they can only store a quantity of semen (collected on-farm or otherwise) to the maximum allowed by his/her D.I.Y. A.I. licence.
Where an applicant does not have a D.I.Y. A.I. licence the semen collected on-farm must be stored in an approved centre and released only for use in his/her herd to a licensed A.I. company inseminator. Prior approval must be obtained from the Department.
Approval of Equine Ova/Embryo Collection or Production Teams
Only teams approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the purpose of producing and or collecting equine ovas/embryos can operate such a service.
Approval of Equine Semen Collection and Storage Centre
The construction and operation of an Equine Semen Collection and Storage Center is set down in EU and National legislation. Please note persons intending to apply for an approval for a equine semen collection and storage centre are advised to contact the Department at the outset so as to obtain full information on the approval process.
The import and export of Canine Semen must be licensed. The importation of canine semen is governed by the Importation of animal semen (prohibition) order 1972
Information and application forms for import and exports of canine semen may be obtained by contacting canine@agriculture.gov.ie
The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) was formally set up in 1998 and is a non-profit organisation charged with providing cattle breeding information services to the Irish dairy and beef industries. ICBF is not a State body, but it undertakes a number of activities which were previously the responsibility of the Department.
ICBF shareholders represent organisations involved in cattle breed improvement activities (A.I. Services, Herd Book Societies and Milk Recording Societies) and the main farm bodies (IFA and ICMSA).
The funding is used to assist with the costs associated with the following activities:
Providing genetic evaluations for beef and dairy cattle in Ireland
Operating and maintaining the ICBF database and animal events recording system,
Operating the bull performance / progeny test centre at Tully and
Establishing and supporting the breeding programmes for Irish dairy and beef breeds.
Infrastructure Programme
DAFM provides funding to ICBF under the Cattle/Sheep Breeding Infrastructure Programme The purpose of the scheme is to assist ICBF in the provision of cattle and sheep breeding services to Irish cattle and sheep farmers.
2023 Cattle/Sheep Infrastructure Programme Terms and Conditions
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Further information on ICBF can be obtained from:
Irish Cattle Breeding Federation
Address:
Link Road, Ballincollig, Co Cork. P31 D452
, P72 XO50
Website:
Email:
Phone number:
Sheep Ireland, which was established in 2008, is an industry owned stand-alone company but is very closely connected to ICBF which provides management & technical services to it. Sheep Ireland is designated with the responsibility of increasing the rate of genetic gain in the Irish sheep sector by identifying and promoting the use of rams with more profitable and sustainable genetics. Funding is provided towards costs associated with sheep breeding activities, some of which, had been carried out by DAFM until 2008 and include:
Providing genetic evaluations
Operating and maintaining the Sheep Ireland database
Further information on Sheep Ireland can be obtained from:
Sheep Ireland
Address:
Link Road, Ballincollig, Co Cork. P31 D452
, P72 XO50
Website:
Email:
Phone number:
The keeping of mink is subject to licensing by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Musk Rats Act, 1933, and the Musk Rats Act, 1933 (Application to Mink) Order, 1965.
For further information contact:
Livestock Breeding Production & Trade Division
Address:
Farnham Street, Cavan, Ireland H12 D459
, H12 D459
Website:
Phone number:
The conservation of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture is essential to preserve ensure biological diversity, to preserve data and traits that ensure sustainable agriculture, to ensure the future adaptability of breeds, to promote the use of genetic resources in commerce and biotechnology, and to conserve genetic diversity for cultural reasons. Ireland has a number of animal breeds that are native to this country. Those breeds official recognised as a native rare breed are
- Caprine: Old Irish Goat
- Cattle: Kerry, Dexter, Irish Maol, Droimeann
- Equine: Connemara Pony, Irish Draught.
- Sheep: Galway
A range of measures are available to ensure their conservation and use on farms. The primary methods of supporting these breeds is through the GLAS scheme. There are also a number of other targeted schemes such as:
The objective of the Scheme is to encourage the maintenance of a number of separate herds of Kerry Cattle in Ireland and the creation and maintenance of a sufficient reserve of pure-bred breeding stock. An applicant is eligible to participate in the scheme if:
• the herd owner is a member of the Kerry Cattle Society Ltd in the year of application
• the herd is located within the territory of the State
• the herd contains at least two breeding females entered in the breeding book of the Kerry Cattle Society Ltd
• the sire of eligible calves is of the purebred Kerry breed;
• eligible progeny of Kerry cows in the herd are submitted for birth notification or entry in the Kerry Cattle breeding book and are registered through the Animal Events system
• each animal, on which premium is being applied for, was born in the applicant's herd and is alive on the date of application.
A premium of €120.00 per eligible calf is payable for 2023.
For a full list of Terms and Conditions and applications please contact:
Address:
Livestock Breeding, Production and Trade, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Cavan Office, Government Buildings, Farnham Street, Cavan, H12 D459
Phone number:
Terms, Conditions and Application for Kerry Cattle Premium Scheme 2024
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This Scheme has been in place since 1996 and has an annual call for projects aimed at supporting the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture. Projects are evaluated by an advisory committee, representing broad national stakeholder interests. Over the years, funding has been provided to a diverse range of projects, including practical hands-on conservation initiatives, raising awareness and education of the general public of the importance of genetic resources, and participation in internationally recognised research and collaboration with European and other international partners in the field of plant and animal genetic resources.
Further information on the Genetic Resources Grant Aid Scheme is available from the link Here
The objective of the Rare Breed Preservation Grant is to assist organisations conserve and protect Irish rare breed farm animals as an important resource of livestock heritage which needs to be conserved as a vital genetic resource for future generations and the benefit of agriculture.
This Scheme shall be administered through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Application forms and Terms and Conditions
For further information contact:
Livestock Breeding Production & Trade Division
Address:
Farnham Street, Cavan, Ireland H12 D459
, H12 D459
Website:
Phone number:
Criteria for the Distribution of Funds for the Safeguard, Development and Improvement of Breeding
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For further information contact:
Livestock Breeding Production & Trade Division
Address:
Farnham Street, Cavan, Ireland H12 D459
, H12 D459
Website:
Phone number:
The General Programme of the Equine Technical Support and Equine Breeding Scheme 2025 provides financial support to help improve quality equine breeding. The scheme also supports infrastructure in the non-thoroughbred horse sector.
Grant aid is available for steps to improve data collection in the genetics and equine breeding area and DNA sampling. The scheme also supports initiatives in the area of breeding, promotion, marketing and studbook development.
General Terms and Conditions for funding of Equine Technical Support Schemes 2025
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Terms and Conditions Funding of Research into Equine Diseases 2025
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Application Form for recognition as a Breed Society under Regulation 2016-1012
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Application Form for re-approval of a Bovine Breeding Programme under Regulation 2016-1012
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Application Form for re-approval of a Porcine Breeding Programme under Regulation 2016-1012
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Application Form for re-approval of an Equine Breeding Programme under Regulation 2016-1012
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Application for re-approval of an Ovine Breeding Programme under Regulation 2016-1012
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Application Form for approval of a Breeding Programme under Regulation 2016-1012
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Application for Approval to Carry out the Activities of a Germinal Product Establishment
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For further information please contact:
Livestock Breeding Production & Trade Division
Address:
Farnham Street, Cavan, Ireland H12 D459
, H12 D459
Website:
Phone number:
Information Note on Importation of Ovine and Caprine Germinal Products
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Information Note on Importation of Equine Germinal Products
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Use of Traces NT for the Certification of Germinal Products within the EU
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