asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if there has been an unusual increase in the incidence of ergot poisoning in cattle this year; and, if so, if he has any plans to counter it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ergot Poisoning.
10.
There has been an unusual increase this year in the incidence of ergot poisoning in cattle. As the factors involved in ergot poisoning are many and complex, my Department's veterinary research laboratories are giving all possible advice and assistance to farmers and their veterinary surgeons where cases are brought to notice. For the coming year my Department will arrange suitable publicity with a view to helping farmers to identify this dangerous fungus which develops in seed heads and to protect their stock against it.
I asked the Minister if he had any plans to counter the increase in poisoning this year. The Minister has indicated that the veterinary people propose taking specific steps next year. I want to find out from the Minister whether there is anything he can do to help farmers whose cattle have become affected by this poisoning this year because there is no way out for them. Would the Minister consider, in any shape or form, the possibility of having those cattle taken on to some departmental line in view of the fact that factories will not accept cattle affected or even cattle that might be in the early stages of suffering from this ergot poisoning?
As the Deputy knows, this disease is not peculiar to this country. It is not covered in other countries by any special assistance. The feeling in the Department is that the maximum that can be done is to publicise the ways and means of avoiding it. That is, if one is cutting silage and hay, it should be cut before the seed head stage because it is in the seed head that the fungus develops. Beyond that, not an awful lot can be done because there is no treatment for the disease.
Arising from a similar question some time ago, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister said that those farmers could apply to the ACC for money to restock. The problem in this regard is restocking, using the silage already creating the poison and putting cattle out on the land affected. Could the Minister not visualise any way in which his Department could help, or make arrangements to help, by providing some type of alternative feeding or accommodation for affected herds and the farmers owning them?
Fortunately these cases are not very numerous but, where they hit, they hit very hard. The means of avoiding it are within the competence of the farmer himself.
That is for next year.
Unfortunately, it hits and hits very suddenly. The farmer does not get an opportunity of combating it if he has not had it before.
The Minister said that the numbers are not numerous but he must agree that the incidence is becoming more common?
They have been more numerous this year: that is agreed.
Would the Minister consider giving special assistance in such cases because he must realise that farmers who have stock affected this year are losing a fortune?
Yes, there is a great difficulty here. If one singles out one disease of this kind and provides special assistance, there will be demands all over the place for assistance in respect of all the diseases causing mortality.
Is it not a fact that ergot poisoning occurs only in years of very heavy rainfall, particularly at the latter end of the year? The Minister mentioned the fact that it was within the competence of farmers to combat it. I say to the Minister——
A question, Deputy, please.
——that his Department never advertised or told farmers——
A question please.
In such circumstances surely the Minister should offer some compensation to the farmers concerned because rarely does it happen?
I am afraid the Deputy is making a speech rather than asking a question.
The Department have gone to a considerable amount of trouble to diagnose the disease and at least to tell the farmer what was wrong with his cattle and how it could be avoided in the future.
That is not much good.