asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the severe loss sustained by farmers when incalf heifers react to the 14-day test, and are ear-punched; and what steps are taken to compensate farmers for such loss.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Compensation for Reactor Incalf Heifers.
17.
I am not aware that there is extensive 14-day testing of incalf heifers on behalf of farmers in the counties comprising the Southern Area. It is not clear, therefore, where the severe loss arises.
Is the Minister aware that where farmers put those heifers up for sale after they have been punched, the animals are not eligible for re-test in the herd and not eligible for the £15 bonus in the southern area and that the farmers are suffering as a consequence? Would the Minister look into that question?
I am so aware. The position is that if the farmers hold them—they are in-calf heifers—until they calf down they will qualify under the herd attested scheme.
Is the Minister aware that once those heifers are punched they are not eligible for any more tests and cannot qualify for the £15 bonus and that is the trouble at the moment?
As the Deputy is aware, the £15 bonus is a special arrangement for this area where there are special problems including a larger percentage of cows to the population of the farms and, as I informed the Deputy, where you have a farm clearance scheme in operation if the farmers hold on to their in-calf heifers until they calf down they will qualify. The matter is being kept continually under review. I understand the Minister for Agriculture has had a number of meetings down there recently with a number of people concerned in the trade and I have no doubt that he is thoroughly familiar with the problem, but the percentage of in-calf heifers in the area that, as suggested by the Deputy, have failed the test, would not be more than 10 per cent, according to the information before him.
If there was only one farmer wronged in this business it would be an injustice and it should be seen to.
The farmers have done very well in that area. In fact, there have been 160,000 reactors and over £4,000,000 has been paid for them since the inception of the scheme.
I do not dispute that.