The Salesian Agricultural College in Pallaskenry, Co. Limerick said a vet called to a sick calf on its farm was delayed by the ongoing fuel protest.

Derek O'Donoghue, principal at the college, told Agriland they needed a veterinary callout early this morning (Thursday, April 9) for the calf.

"The vet started the journey and couldn't complete it, he got stuck in the road blockade on the motorway in Limerick.

"By the time he was ready to get out of that blockade, the calf had died," he said.

"But that has passed now, so hopefully the next time the vet will be able to travel and won't be impeded by a blockade," he added.

The agricultural college at Pallaskenry, located 16km west of Limerick city, spans over 500ac and includes a herd of around 400 dairy cows.

Fuel protest

The protests over high fuel prices, which began on Tuesday, have seen convoys of tractors, trucks, buses and other vehicles gather on motorways and in Dublin city centre.

Protesters are also staging blockades at ports in Cork, Limerick and Galway, along with a key fuel refinery at Whitegate, Co. Cork.

Derek O'Donoghue said the consequences of the protest "are starting to be felt at farm level".

He said that fuel shortages are beginning to have an impact, with some local outlets in Askeaton out of supplies this morning.

"Price is one thing, but when you can't get it, price is secondary," he said.

Animal feed

However, O'Donoghue said the biggest concern is currently in relation to animal feed.

Roche's Feed Mill in Co. Limerick, which supplies the college, has been forced to temporarily cease production.

A protest is blocking access to Foynes Port in Co. Limerick, which is affecting the supply of raw materials to the mill.

"We were lucky that we got a delivery of dairy nuts at 4:00a.m yesterday morning. So thankfully, we've cover for the next week or so with dairy nuts.

"That's basically the source of Cal Mag to cows, which is a big aid in the prevention of grass tetany. If we hadn't got that delivery, we were out of dairy nuts.

"We got delivery of milk powder, but we didn't get what we wanted so, but hopefully we have enough to carry us through till the blockade is over," O'Donoghue said.

Dialogue

Milk collection services at the college have not been impacted by the protests.

The college also had fertiliser in stock, which is currently being spread on silage ground.

"At the minute, it's just the feed that is probably our biggest issue in next three, to four to five days, if [the mills] aren't back up and running.

"They won't be back up and running unless the port in Foynes is open," O'Donoghue said.

The Irish Grain and Feed Association (IGFA) has said that the production at a number of mills is stalled due to a lack of access to feed materials.

The college principal said that ultimately the fuel price issue "is going to have to be sorted by discussion or dialogue".

"There has to be give on both sides, but we'd urge that there would be consideration given to those that are being impacted in the farming community, particularly in relation to livestock, livestock transport, veterinary calls and animal feed which is a big issue," he said.