Bluetongue would have a devastating impact on the cattle trade if was to be discovered in Ireland, Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) livestock and environmental services executive Ray Doyle has warned.
Doyle stated that a case would disrupt marts, as farmers would be faced with bills of €200/head for meeting the testing requirements needed to move cattle across disease zone boundaries that would be created by the Department of Agriculture in the event of cases.
"In the event of bluetongue arriving on the island, it would be a disaster for livestock marts,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“If you have exclusion zones and animals crossing those zones, you're looking at a bill of €200\head for pre- and post-movement testing. The livestock trade would become uneconomical.”
The impact that the detection of bluetongue within Ireland would have on the live cattle trade would vary depending on destination, the ICOS executive maintained.
Doyle said that restrictions would be placed on movements outside of the State, but not to countries that have had cases themselves, such as France or Italy, depending on the strain detected.
NI testing
The results of tests on samples taken from two animals suspected of carrying bluetongue antibodies is awaited by authorities in Northern Ireland.
The discovery of the antibodies during routine surveillance tests led to the establishment of a 20km temporary control zone around the farm from which these cows originated near Bangor, Co Down.
The suspected cases led to the suspension of cattle exports from NI to Britain, with the only cattle and sheep movements permitted from NI to the south being those headed directly for slaughter.
The movement of cattle and sheep for slaughter is only permitted once 48 hours prior notice has been given, while the movement of cattle and sheep not destined for immediate slaughter across the border has been temporarily banned.
Further testing has been ramped up by NI's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, which has urged farmers to remain vigilant for signs of the virus in their herds and flocks.
Read more
Live exports from Northern Ireland suspended due to bluetongue
UFU urges bluetongue vigilance among farmers
Suspect bluetongue cases were two cows formerly from Clandeboye Estate
Bluetongue would have a devastating impact on the cattle trade if was to be discovered in Ireland, Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) livestock and environmental services executive Ray Doyle has warned.
Doyle stated that a case would disrupt marts, as farmers would be faced with bills of €200/head for meeting the testing requirements needed to move cattle across disease zone boundaries that would be created by the Department of Agriculture in the event of cases.
"In the event of bluetongue arriving on the island, it would be a disaster for livestock marts,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“If you have exclusion zones and animals crossing those zones, you're looking at a bill of €200\head for pre- and post-movement testing. The livestock trade would become uneconomical.”
The impact that the detection of bluetongue within Ireland would have on the live cattle trade would vary depending on destination, the ICOS executive maintained.
Doyle said that restrictions would be placed on movements outside of the State, but not to countries that have had cases themselves, such as France or Italy, depending on the strain detected.
NI testing
The results of tests on samples taken from two animals suspected of carrying bluetongue antibodies is awaited by authorities in Northern Ireland.
The discovery of the antibodies during routine surveillance tests led to the establishment of a 20km temporary control zone around the farm from which these cows originated near Bangor, Co Down.
The suspected cases led to the suspension of cattle exports from NI to Britain, with the only cattle and sheep movements permitted from NI to the south being those headed directly for slaughter.
The movement of cattle and sheep for slaughter is only permitted once 48 hours prior notice has been given, while the movement of cattle and sheep not destined for immediate slaughter across the border has been temporarily banned.
Further testing has been ramped up by NI's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, which has urged farmers to remain vigilant for signs of the virus in their herds and flocks.
Read more
Live exports from Northern Ireland suspended due to bluetongue
UFU urges bluetongue vigilance among farmers
Suspect bluetongue cases were two cows formerly from Clandeboye Estate
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