Mart manager: 'Far-fetched' TB changes must be simplified
The manager of a mart in Co. Kerry has urged the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to simplify new TB rules for trading cattle which came into effect this week.
Maurice Brosnan, manager of Gortatlea Mart, told Agriland that some farmers are "not 100%" on the new regulations, which he labelled as "far-fetched".
He said the mart has been taking multiple calls from farmers in recent days who are unsure how the changes will impact on their cattle.
"I don't know why they're bringing in these new rules. I think they're absolutely reckless. I'm very disappointed with it.
"It should be simplified. Go back to the drawing board again and simplify the thing. That's all people want," he said.
TB
On Monday (April 13), DAFM rolled the new testing and animal movement regime under the TB Action Plan.
Under the changes, farmers buying and selling cattle at marts will be assigned to specific groups.
The Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system will notify the mart of the animal grouping.
There is no change to herds buying non-breeding cattle under 36 months-of-age.
"As of today, any animal suitable for breeding should be tested within 30 days.
"Any cull cow has to be tested within the six months of the sale date just to have all the customers in the ring be able to purchase them.
"If they're over the six months, you're cutting down the amount of people that can purchase your cull cow," Brosnan said.
"There is only one person that this is suiting, the factory. They're trying to confine the people to sell their animals. They're cutting down the markets, more or less.
"The farmer won't get the full value of the animals if they stick to these new rules," Brosnan claimed.
The mart manager said he would be "begging" the department to pause the changes and "simplify the whole system".
"If they have to do a change, they should bring in a compulsory across the board 60-day test.
"But as far as I'm following it, the TB thing is not near as bad as it was this time 12 months ago," he said.
Wildlife
Brosnan also believes that wildlife is the biggest issue when it comes to the spread of bovine TB, rather than the movement of animals to marts.
"We all want this TB thing eradicated as good as we can. There's no benefit to see bad outbreaks in Kerry, Cork or all of Munster, wherever would be travelling to me.
"We do want it simplified and to get to the bottom of it and improve the situation.
"But as far as I can see the biggest problem of the whole TB situation is the root problem is the wildlife, which they should be tackling before they should be tackling the farmer.
"Farmers are always the first to be affected in my eyes," he said.
DAFM
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has claimed that the information campaign to communicate the changes to farmers has been "shambolic".
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon previously told Agriland: "I understand the significant financial and emotional difficulty a TB breakdown can have and the importance of these changes to address the TB situation.
"My department will continue to communicate and engage on the roll-out of this very important plan," he added.
The minister has also launched a new €6 million on-farm badger biosecurity scheme.
The department said it continues to engage with livestock marts, and update its dedicated TB website for all herdowners with updated advice on these changes.
