The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has called on the Department of Agriculture to agree a financial package to offset the additional costs associated with the tighter TB testing regime that was introduced earlier this month.

The association also warned that the new restrictions will have to show results in terms of reducing the incidence of TB.

The ICMSA urged farmers to familiarise themselves with the new TB testing regime and to be aware of the tighter regulations around animal movements that are now in place.

Confusion

The farm body’s livestock chair Des Morrison said there was still “considerable confusion” among farmers regarding the new TB test regime.

Under the new rules, a post-movement test will be required on cows of all ages and males over the age of 36 months that are moving farm to farm or through a mart if the herd of origin has not been TB tested in the last six months.

Animals that require a TB test in the 30 days after movement will be restricted immediately to the herd into which they have moved. This herd then has 30 days to test these animals.

If after 30 days the animals have not been tested, the new host herd will be restricted, although the sale of calves under six weeks of age and the purchase in of animals will be permitted.

If after another 60 days - that is 90 days since the original movement - the animals have still not been tested, then the new host herd will be scheduled for a full TB test.

Requirements

“It is important that farmers familiarise themselves with the new [TB testing] requirements, especially those breeding herds that will be moving cows into their herds on a permanent basis,” said Morrison.

“The new rules do represent another tightening of restrictions on farms due to TB and there must be results accruing from these new obligations in terms of reduced TB incidence,” he added.

“Just as importantly, there will be additional expense involved in abiding by these new procedures and Irish farmers are entitled to - and will expect - a proportionate financial response from the Department towards that additional expense,” Morrison insisted.

“[The] ICMSA has been in discussions with the Department on this matter and the Department needs to approve a financial package immediately,” he said.