Teresa Gilligan, Sligo IFA County Chairperson, said IFA have put forward a number of substantial improvements that are critical in eliminating the losses being experienced by farmers where disease breakdowns occur.

Mrs Gilligan said: “IFA is demanding a much fairer system that gives farmers the true market value of their animals. It is grossly unfair that a farmer who suffers a disease breakdown has to pay a minimum of E107 to get the true market value of their animal.”

She said unnecessary BSE testing of cattle was costing farmers E7 million a year in factories and the Minister is actively pursuing extending the testing to 36 months.

Mrs Gilligan raised the issue of the requirement to have cattle being slaughtered, tested for TB inside the previous 12 months.

“This is adding unnecessary cost and inconvenience to beef finishers. Where farmers have complied with their herd test requirements, it makes no sense having to test these heavy animals.”

Mrs Gilligan said IFA, the minister and Department of Agriculture officials reviewed the wildlife control programme and agreed that necessary resources would be made available to protect the health status of the National Herd.

Source: Sligo Weekender