Knackeries will not collect dead animals on farms from Wednesday onwards, as a planned strike is set to go ahead in the absence of a concrete offer from the Department of Agriculture.

Last week, the Animal Collectors’ Association (ACA) voted unanimously to not collect fallen animals as its dispute with the Department rumbles on.

No progress

Since then, no progress has been made at bridging the gap between the two sides.

A spokesperson for the ACA told the Irish Farmers Journal that the action was a last resort, as knackeries were in dire financial straits. The spokesperson said some of the 38 knackeries nationwide were “thinking of closing permanently” such was the financial difficulty.

“We don’t want to have to increase our charges to the rate required to stay in business, but it’s not viable to keep going as it is,” the spokesperson said.

Delivery

Farmers will still be able to deliver animals to knackeries from Wednesday onwards. However, the spokesperson warned unless a package was put in place, there would be full closure of knackery services.

Approximately 3,000 animals were left uncollected in September last year when a similar strike took place.

Department response

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture told the Irish Farmers Journal on Monday that it is "in the process of finalising a scheme in consultation with the industry to ensure the continuation of the service and support the collection of fallen stock into the future".

"The importance of the animal collection service is well recognised by the Department, as it provides an essential service to the farming community and wider public," the spokesperson said.

Read more

Farm organisations call for urgent resolve on knackery talks

No knackery collections next week