
Teagasc Moorepark under ‘TB-related' restrictions
Attendees at its annual open day, which took place on Wednesday, July 3, were told that due to the restrictions, heightened biosecurity protocols would apply.
Footbaths were made available at the start, end and throughout the planned route of the day.
Disinfection mats for cars were also present at the entry and exit.
The open day route took attendees on a meandering route through Moorepark fields.
In the opening briefing before getting to the main event, attendees were informed that grazing by the Moorepark herd was restricted along the route.
Breaking tradition, no live animals were on display at this year's event, with Teagasc opting instead for plastic, replacements, or cardboard cutouts as visual aids and props throughout the displays.
Attendees were informed to thoroughly disinfect footwear and to be mindful that disinfectant only works on clean footwear.
TB levels highest in 15 years
TB levels in Ireland have reached the highest the country has seen in the last 15 years.
As of March 30, herd incidence is reported as 6.18% by the Department of Agriculture, already surpassing 2024's figure of 6.04% herd incidence by the end of the year.
In a recent oireachtas meeting, it was revealed that as of June 8, just under 6,500 herds have suffered a TB breakdown, and 43,000 reactors have been disclosed within the last 12 months.
Within the same period, just under 43,000 reactors have been disclosed, a 35% increase on the figure recorded in the same period the previous year, which was just under 32,000 reactors.
The meeting also heard that dealing with the ongoing battle of Bovine TB (TB) will cost Ireland €130m this year.
With the current disease levels, it was also estimated that the cost of the eradication programme could reach €170m in 2026.
Read More
Irish Examiner view: We need to eradicate TB for good

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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Teagasc Moorepark under ‘TB-related' restrictions
Teagasc Moorepark is currently under TB restrictions. Attendees at its annual open day, which took place on Wednesday, July 3, were told that due to the restrictions, heightened biosecurity protocols would apply. Footbaths were made available at the start, end and throughout the planned route of the day. Disinfection mats for cars were also present at the entry and exit. The open day route took attendees on a meandering route through Moorepark fields. In the opening briefing before getting to the main event, attendees were informed that grazing by the Moorepark herd was restricted along the route. Breaking tradition, no live animals were on display at this year's event, with Teagasc opting instead for plastic, replacements, or cardboard cutouts as visual aids and props throughout the displays. Attendees were informed to thoroughly disinfect footwear and to be mindful that disinfectant only works on clean footwear. TB levels highest in 15 years TB levels in Ireland have reached the highest the country has seen in the last 15 years. As of March 30, herd incidence is reported as 6.18% by the Department of Agriculture, already surpassing 2024's figure of 6.04% herd incidence by the end of the year. In a recent oireachtas meeting, it was revealed that as of June 8, just under 6,500 herds have suffered a TB breakdown, and 43,000 reactors have been disclosed within the last 12 months. Within the same period, just under 43,000 reactors have been disclosed, a 35% increase on the figure recorded in the same period the previous year, which was just under 32,000 reactors. The meeting also heard that dealing with the ongoing battle of Bovine TB (TB) will cost Ireland €130m this year. With the current disease levels, it was also estimated that the cost of the eradication programme could reach €170m in 2026. Read More Irish Examiner view: We need to eradicate TB for good


Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Irish Examiner
EU gives Irish dairy high marks, but goat ID and cold store gaps need action
Two EU Health and Food Safety auditors inspected Ireland's dairy industry in January and February, and found that the Irish official control system is well organised, with robust and reliable control of raw milk. However, the 15-day inspection found some faults with approval of cold stores, and with identification of goats on one farm. In Ireland, to evaluate official controls and enforcement of EU requirements, the auditors met with FSAI (Food Safety Authority of Ireland) and DAFM officials, centrally and at three DAFM Regional Veterinary Offices. They also visited a private laboratory performing raw milk testing, two cattle dairy farms, and one goat dairy farm. Two purchasers of raw cow milk and five dairy processing establishments were visited. The auditors were happy with how dairy non-compliances are followed-up, and sanctioned when necessary, in Ireland. However, they said independent cold stores handling dairy products in temperature-controlled conditions are registered, but not approved by the DAFM (which is required by EU regulations). DAFM representatives said the 15 cold stores are subjected to risk-based official controls. In any case, the department said all the independent cold stores referred to would move from being registered cold stores to approved cold stores by June 2025. Cattle checked by the auditors were correctly identified, but the goat farm they visited had more than 50% of the adult animals and almost all the younger ones not tagged, nor identified by an alternative method. Moreover, no actions had been taken to remedy the situation by the private veterinarian contracted by the goat farmer, or by the private veterinarian in charge of animal health testing. The auditors said improper identification of the goats jeopardises the reliability of records of medical treatments, and of animal health tests. The DAFM responded with additional inspections of the holding in question. At a subsequent inspection, correct identification of all the goats was verified. And two notifications were sent to private vets, through Veterinary Ireland and the DAFM's own link to vets, reminding them of goat ID requirements. "There has been a check on goat identification added to the TB control plan," said the DAFM. A text message has also been issued to all goat farmers reminding them of their legal requirement to tag their animals. An updated step-by-step guide to the National Goat Identification System will also be issued to all goat farmers, along with an information leaflet accompanying the annual sheep and goat census. The EU auditors said records of medical treatments administered to animals were available in all holdings visited, in electronic format or hard copies. They were told by Irish officials that many farmers use a kit for the detection of antimicrobial residues in raw milk. The auditors found that temperatures of milk in bulk tanks, recorded on collection dockets issued by the truck driver, were in line with legal requirements. TB inspections After the last EU audit of the Irish dairy industry, in 2015, the DAFM requested farmers to keep records of how much raw milk from TB reactors was discarded at farm level (usually in slurry tanks). This time around, the auditors followed up on this. They found that one of the two bovine dairy holdings visited was under TB restrictions, since several reactors were detected in 2024. The second herd visited was recently de-restricted, after two clear tests. Documents were available on both holdings showing the date and results of tests, and numbers of and ID numbers of reactors and inconclusives, dates animals were sent for slaughter, and records of milk discarded. Auditors also checked a number of certificates declaring the healthy status of animals, and noted that these procedures had been adhered to by farmers. The three dairy holdings visited were generally in satisfactory condition. However, in one bovine holding, the bulk milk tank room was not entirely up to standard (because part of a wall had been demolished to make space for the tank). Auditors verified milk purchaser systems in place to test for plate count, SCC, and inhibitors in raw milk, and checked that raw milk was tested at the required frequencies. Purchaser inspections At all purchasers' establishments they visited, they said they could verify that milk quality procedures were followed, without exceptions, and that the DAFM's Dairy Controls and Certification Division or One Health One Welfare Division had been informed of any non-compliances, and they could verify follow-up results. The procedures include a first warning to the farmer if the geometric plate count and/or SCC average for PC is exceeded for the first time, with the warning stating that if results are still unsatisfactory for the following two months (during which second and third warnings can be notified to the farmer), the collection of milk will cease, with a Rejection Notice issue. Collection can resume only when favourable single test results bring the geometric average back under the prescribed limits. Raw milk testing The DAFM gave statistics on raw milk testing in 2022 and 2023 to the auditors. In 2022, 555,930 cow milk samples were tested for plate count, resulting in 1,448 first warnings and 56 rejection notices. The 516,138 plate count tests in 2023 resulted in 1,659 first warnings and 114 rejection notices. In 2022, 1,890,927 SCC tests resulted in 2,158 first warnings and 393 rejection notices. The 1,777,528 SCC tests in 2023 resulted in 2,401 first warnings and 496 rejection notices. Over the two years, 516,574 tests for antibiotic residues resulted in 924 non-compliances. According to the DAFM, when antimicrobial (antibiotic) residues are detected in the truck bulk milk, the single truck compartments are tested, and then the farm samples for the identified compartment. The responsible farmer is charged the cost of the milk disposed of, and of its disposal as category-two animal by-product. Reinforced control (testing each collection) is put in place for at least 30 days. If antibiotic residues are found for a second time in the 30 days, reinforced control continues for another 30 days. A third fail, and testing is extended for two months. Sheep and goat milk testing The DAFM gave statistics on sheep and goat milk testing in 2022 and 2023 to the auditors. All 1,949 samples tested for plate count were compliant. There was only one non-compliance in 436 antibiotic residue tests. Conclusions The auditors concluded that a raw milk quality control system is in place in Ireland, enforced by the dairy industry, and controlled adequately by Irish officials. They also said all food business operators visited were in compliance with hygiene rules, all visited establishments had generally good structures and equipment, and satisfactory hygiene. In small and medium-sized establishments, some deficiencies were present, such as structural maintenance and cleaning issues, and some hygiene deficiencies such as rusty equipment, dust, and dirty drains. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points based systems were in place, and official controls carried out in line with procedures, with only minor shortcomings (for example, a container for rennet not identified, and returned goods from retailers stored with finished products ready to be dispatched). The auditors found that the official control system was supported by a network of authorised, accredited laboratories. Results seen for official sampling for food pathogens were satisfactory. According to the DAFM, dairy holdings in Ireland in 2023 included 15,319 bovine, five sheep, 24 goat, and three buffalo holdings. They produced around 8.5 million tonnes of cow milk, 260 tonnes of sheep milk, 1,600 tonnes of goat milk, and 676 tonnes of buffalo milk. Read More Genotyping reveals 17% of calves registered with incorrect sire


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3 days ago
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