Testing regime should end now
THE over-24 months old testing regime for brucellosis in the Republic should now cease immediately following the declaration earlier this month that Northern Ireland is completely free of the disease.
Galway IFA Livestock Chairman, Michael Flynn, said that a continuation of the brucellosis testing regime in the Republic would be utterly pointless given that the disease did not exist anymore in the island of Ireland.
“The testing of heifers and bulls over the age 24 months has been another extra cost to farmers but now that the North has been declared brucellosis free, there is absolutely no need for it.
“The declaration of Northern Ireland as being brucellosis free is most welcome news for farmers but now the cost of carrying out expensive tests must cease immediately,” said Michael Flynn.
He said that farmers who wanted to sell bulls and heifers over the age of 24 months were faced with veterinary call-out fee of about €70 and then a cost of about €4 an animal for the test.
Galway IFA Chairman, Pat Murphy, said that the recent news on Northern Ireland being declared brucellosis free now removed any necessity for the testing regime to continue down here.
“While there may have been justification for the testing before the North had been declared brucellosis free, there is certainly no reason now for it. We need swift action to remove this testing requirement,” said Pat Murphy.
IFA Animal Health Chairman Bert Stewart said that brucellosis testing had imposed severe costs and hardship on individual farmers – removal of the testing requirement would be worth €6 million in annual savings to farmers.
“The discontinuation of this test allows farmers to consider mart sales for female beef animals without the prohibitive costs previously associated with their sale. This will provide a viable alternative outlet and improve competition,” said Mr. Stewart.