The Irish Farmers Journal has learned that pre-movement testing of all breeding animals over 24 months for Brucellosis is set to be discontinued.

IFA Animal Health Committee chair Bert Stewart said that in line with the commitment given by the Minister for Agriculture earlier this year, the Department of Agriculture has confirmed to IFA that an announcement will be made in the coming weeks to discontinue pre-movement testing of all breeding animals to coincide with testing changes being implemented in Northern Ireland.

€6m saving

Stewart said that the total savings for farmers from this and the removal of herd monitoring earlier this year could amount to €6m per year.

He said the removal of pre-movement testing on female animals over two years of age will also allow the mart sales of beef heifers and cull cows to become a real alternative for farmers and provide much-needed competition in the trade while boosting throughput in marts.

Testing requirements for all animals will be aligned, a valid 12-month TB test and BVD compliance being the only requirements. Stewart said the prohibition on purchasing animals into TB-restricted holdings by the Department continues to cause enormous difficulties for farmers and is also affecting trade in some marts as farmers worst-affected by this unnecessary control are usually the most active in their local mart.

He said the Department must revisit the application of this control that offers little in the way of eradication of TB but is preventing farmers from maintaining stock levels on their farms and maximising their income.

Read more from the Mart Price Focus here.