A new clean livestock policy (CLP) for sheep has been published by the Department of Agriculture. The CLP has three categories for classifying the cleanliness of sheep delivered for slaughter – satisfactory, acceptable and unacceptable – and guidelines for dealing with sheep falling into each category.
A new clean livestock policy (CLP) for sheep has been published by the Department of Agriculture.
The CLP has three categories for classifying the cleanliness of sheep delivered for slaughter – satisfactory, acceptable and unacceptable – and guidelines for dealing with sheep falling into each category.
However, it does not include any photographs to illustrate the policy, which IFA national sheep chair John Lynskey said must be addressed.
“The Department, together with Teagasc, must immediately finalise the CLP arrangements and provide agreed photographic material on the three categories to all meat plants. Both farmers and factories need to be clear on the requirements and ensure they are applied in a fair and consistent way across all meat plants.”
Lynskey described the imposition of a clipping charge by some factories on all sheep presented for slaughter as unfair.
“Applying an across-the-board clipping charge on sheep is wrong and contrary to the policy from the Department. The majority of sheep will fall into Category A and the Department has confirmed to the IFA it is not a requirement to clip and apply charges on these animals. The move by some factories to impose a clipping charge on every lamb is totally wrong. A plant killing 3,000 sheep per day is charging farmer suppliers €2,400 to €3,000 per week in clipping fees.”
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