Latest news with #FarmingIndependent
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Live weighing of cattle in beef factories ‘brushed under carpet'
The Irish Beef Sector Agreement, which followed the 2019 beef protests, states that 'lairage weighing services will be provided on request, which may incur a nominal charge'. However, none of the farm organisations contacted by the Farming Independent are aware of any processor currently offering this service, while the IBLA (Irish Beef and Lamb Association) claimed its 'members have required live weighing in lairages but have been told that their plant doesn't provide this service'. Corley said: 'I've never seen it rolled out in any factory, but over the years, there have been a number of requests as to why this wasn't implemented. 'Our understanding was that it would be implemented, but like that, a lot of things were supposed to happen since 2019. In general, not a whole lot has improved from the power situations that factories had at the time of the agreement to what they have now. There hasn't been a whole lot of improvement or transparency.' He said, 'there is very little transparency once cattle leave farmers for the factory', but live weighing would 'help keep factories in check' and leave farmers 'better equipped to make calculations'. 'Having an animal's live weight could be a useful tool for farmers, especially to compare kill-out percentages between factories.' KO percentage is the carcass weight expressed as a percentage of the animal's liveweight. It is influenced by several factors, including genetics, sex, feeding system, carcass weight and conformation (cattle in Ireland are graded under the EUROP system). Industry estimates suggest that cows generally have the lowest KO%, typically ranging from 46-58pc. Bulls tend to have the highest (50-64pc), while steers range from 48-60pc and heifers from 48-59pc. Across all categories, better conformation usually results in higher KO%. Corley said: 'For example, if one group of bullocks killed out at 58pc in one factory, and a similar group killed out at 54pc in another, farmers could legitimately question the difference. 'Farmers would have a suspicion about factories and the amount of trim. I am sure factories could put a live weighing scales on the main crush.' ICSA beef chair John Cleary said its members would see live weighing as a 'very positive step forward' in providing up-to-date information, especially in the area of kill-out percentages. 'Farmers would benefit hugely from extra relevant feedback from processors to better their business,' he said. The IBLA said: 'The service has not been found to have been made available to its members or beef producers in general. 'Without a forum in place, there is no reporting to confirm if the weighing facilities have been provided.' 'Suppliers are entitled to the choice, and meat processing factories must honour the Irish Beef Sector Agreement. IBLA has written to the minister to query why Irish meat processing companies had not complied with certain conditions of the agreement.' ICMSA livestock committee chair Michael O'Connell said it is not an issue being brought up by members, but rather grading and the Quality Payment Scheme, which has been 'proved to be biased against dairy beef cattle'. 'ICMSA believes that there are much more important issues requiring attention, particularly the long-overdue reform of the beef price grid.'
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Call for lay TB testers to help reduce vet workload
In England and Wales, Approved Tuberculin Testers (ATTs) support vets in delivering TB testing of cattle. The ICMSA has said that non-vet TB testers – like those used in England and Wales - could help reduce workloads for vets, particularly during busy spring periods to allow them to focus on 'other critical areas' of animal health. In England and Wales, Approved Tuberculin Testers (ATTs) support vets in delivering TB testing of cattle. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, told the Farming Independent that TB testing in Ireland is carried out by approved private veterinary practitioners or DAFM Veterinary Inspectors with 'no plans currently to change this'.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Inside Ireland's first derogation pitch: What the EPA told the EU
Today at 21:30 The EPA has detailed that while some early signs of improvement were recorded in 2024, serious water quality challenges persist in Ireland – including high nitrate levels in key agricultural areas – as it delivered its first presentation to the EU Nitrates Committee on the future of the nitrates derogation. The presentation, obtained by the Farming Independent through a Freedom of Information request, paints a mixed picture of progress on water quality – with early signs of improvement in 2024 offset by stubborn problems in previous years and widespread non-compliance with environmental rules on farms inspected.
Irish Independent
08-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Minister signals tougher TB controls including restrictions for high-risk herds
The Farming Independent understands the Minister told the meeting of industry stakeholders of the rising toll of bovine TB (bTB) on Irish farmers and set out a series of new measures aimed at curbing its spread — including a return to movement restrictions for cattle from high-risk herds, a move that has already drawn sharp criticism from farming groups. Over 41,600 reactors were disclosed in 2024, a 44% increase on the previous year. With this rate of increase, the Minister warned Ireland could be facing 63,000 reactors in 2025. More than 6,000 farm families were affected by a TB outbreak last year, with herd incidence rising to 6.04%, a 36% increase since 2022. The economic fallout is severe, with the dairy industry alone estimated to have lost 145 million litres of milk in 2024, and farm gate price losses reaching approximately €70 million. Direct programme costs exceeded €100 million last year, with farmers contributing €8 million more in disease levies and testing. Minister Heydon said the current approach — focused on testing, culling, and vaccinating badgers — was not enough. Citing a recent study, he called for enhanced biosecurity and tighter controls on the movement of high-risk cattle, including renewed restrictions on herds with a history of TB breakdowns. 'These steps are necessary to reduce stress for affected farmers and to protect livelihoods,' he said, outlining a five-point plan including reducing the role of wildlife, early detection, biosecurity improvements, and a renewed focus on high-risk cattle movement. But the reaction from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) to the proposals has been immediately scathing. IFA Animal Health Chair TJ Maher said the proposals 'still have some distance to travel' and place undue burden on individual farmers. 'Yesterday, IFA published a report completed by ifac which showed that TB is costing farmers over €150 million per annum,' Maher said. 'A lot of the Minister's proposals would put extra costs on farmers — including the extension of restrictions and blacklisting of herds. This places the burden on farmers who, through no fault of their own, are enduring TB outbreaks.' Maher said that for meaningful agreement to be reached, the Department 'will need to change their direction of travel.'
Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Emergency TB summit called by Minister Heydon
The meeting comes as figures reveal a significant deterioration in TB incidence, with herd restrictions rising by 36% in just two years—from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024. The Minister described the situation as the most serious setback in over two decades, warning that bovine TB has reached levels last seen in 2003. The Minister warned Ireland has 'reached a crossroads in our efforts to control and ultimately eradicate bovine TB. 'An increasing number of farm families are facing the emotional and financial hardship of a TB breakdown,' said Minister Heydon. 'The stark reality is that we have reached a crossroads in our efforts to control and ultimately eradicate bovine TB.' The Minister emphasised the urgency of coordinated action, stating that failure to address the disease now could lead to broader consequences for rural communities and the agri-food sector. 'If left unchecked, this disease will impact many more families throughout rural Ireland and reduce output at both farm and processor levels,' he said. The meeting of stakeholders will take place next Thursday. Heydon confirmed that he would present proposals for a revamped TB eradication plan after the summit, developed in consultation with scientific and veterinary experts. 'We must take a robust, science-based approach. If we do, we can not only halt the current increase but begin to make progress again towards eradication.' Leadership and cooperation will be key, he stressed. 'Leadership will be required across every level of the sector, including within my own Department, to ensure we implement the most effective measures.' The Minister also paid tribute to those involved in the daily fight against TB, from affected farmers to veterinary practitioners and Department staff. 'I want to place on the record my recognition of all those who are either dealing directly with this disease or supporting those most affected.' Speaking to the Farming Independent recently the Minister said he has 'given the opportunity and space to the TB forum to come up with proposals, to discuss them and debate them'. 'I will now look at the next steps, but there is an urgency here, and I'm going to take very clear action. 'We have a 32pc increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024 and this resulted in exchequer expenditure going from €74m in 2013 to €100m last year. 'We needed a supplementary allocation in the Budget for it and I currently don't have enough money budgeted for it. So I'm going to have to find more money to cover this.'
