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The ICSA has estimated that proposed new knackery costs could be as high as €14m for farmers and called for an emergency meeting to settle the dispute between knackeries, stakeholders and the Department of Agriculture.
A change to the cost structure and subsidies provided by the Department has been rejected by the Animal Collector’s Association (ACA) and farmers are faced with having to store fallen animals on their farms.
Left to rot
“It is wholly unacceptable that fallen animals are being left to rot in farmyards around the country.
“Apart from the risk of spreading disease, farms are extremely busy at this time of year with calving and lambing, so storing fallen animals on farm is just not a viable option for most,” ICSA animal health and welfare chair Hugh Farrell said.
“It is clear that a calf collection charge of €30 is too dear. The €100 for over 24 months is also a major sticking point.”
Regrettable
In a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal, the Department said it was regrettable that the ACA had acted to withhold collection services from farmers. It said the revised scheme “substantially increased subsidies” for knackery operators.
The new scheme caps the collection fee knackeries can charge farmers for a fallen animal broken up over different age categories.
SHARING OPTIONS: