Vol. 530 No. 5
4 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the steps in place to carry out a targeted cull of cattle based on geographical location and age of animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4262/01]
A comprehensive range of measures is in place to control and eradicate BSE, including compulsory notification of the disease, the depopulation of herd mates, birth cohorts and progeny of the infected animal, a ban on the use of meat and bonemeal for farmed animals and the removal and destruction of specified risk materials from ruminant animals. This regime has been independently verified by a number of independent bodies, including the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission, and found to be operating effectively.
The Deputy will also be aware that these measures have been supplemented by a programme of targeted active surveillance for BSE among fallen and casualty animals, and that all cattle over 30 months of age entering the food chain are now being routinely tested for BSE. Thankfully, approximately 45,000 have tested negative to date. I am satisfied that this range of measures is proving effective and that it provides a sound basis for consumer confidence in beef and for the protection of public health.
The purchase for destruction scheme was introduced by the European Union as a market management measure to remove surplus beef from the market arising from the decline in beef consumption in the Union and the closure of many third country markets because of BSE. In general, cattle over 30 months of age which have not been tested for BSE, may be offered by producers for purchase and destruction under this scheme.
I am aware that there have been suggestions in relation to a targeted cull of cows. The feasibility of such a proposal is under active examination by my Department, but there are limiting factors, not least the difficulty in building an adequate epidemiological profile because of the low numbers of BSE infected animals. In this regard it should be noted that cows slaughtered under the scheme to date account for 31% of the total.
Surely the public health aspects of BSE are our primary concern. Much of what I hear suggests that the market support mechanism rather than consumer confidence is being addressed primarily. All the evidence indicates that BSE is not obvious in younger cattle. Perhaps they are in a pre-clinical state, but it is in the older animals that infectivity is most likely to occur. Surely on that basis alone it makes sense that there would be a targeted cull of older animals.
Will the Minister consider the appearance of BSE in animals, especially in certain counties? The data currently available suggests that these counties should be targeted. Within certain areas there are BSE hot spots. In view of this does the Minister not agree that a cull should take place on a geographical basis?
There is a two pronged approach to BSE. The primary consideration is public health. On a number of occasions, including today in the House, I have outlined the control measures in place from a public health point of view. The second consideration is the market and market related measures. On the question of culled cows, BSE is an extremely complex condition. Deputy Upton spoke in the House on this aspect before Christmas during Private Members' business. She is probably more familiar with the scientific aspects than are most Deputies.
BSE normally occurs in the first year of life of the animals and it then takes anything from two to ten years before clinical signs appear. Typically, they occur in the range of five to seven years. For there to be a reduction or acceleration in the number of clinical cases there is no doubt that a cull of those animals would be beneficial, but it would not add anything to the public health aspect. We are seeking to in some way target the cull because in a herd of approximately one million there would be approximately 100 animals in the age group of five to seven years and it is not easy to find them.
An analysis of the geographical distribution of reported BSE cases in 2000 showed that the recorded incidence was higher in some counties than in others, as suggested by the Deputy. For example, 23% of the 145 cases were diagnosed in herds based in Counties Cavan and Monaghan. The animals in these counties account for approximately 7% of the animals at risk of developing the disease. The level of disease in these counties was also higher than average in the previous years and not alone in 2000. We are looking at that. John Griffin from UCD is helping with this analysis and we hope to have all the data put together shortly.
Any kind of cull would have to be scientifically based because otherwise if one million cattle were culled then according to an estimate I saw it would cost £3 million per infected animal. Finding the infected animals is the problem. I will consider the Deputy's suggestion, but I would point out that initiating such a scheme is being actively worked on.
I thank the Minister for identifying the counties most affected, although this information has been available since 1998. Data available to me indicates that when the averages are considered there were three and a half times more cases of BSE in those counties than in the rest of the country.
With regard to the epidemiology, will there be a traceability scheme to find out about the animals that moved from one farm to another? The movement around the country of those born in certain counties, especially Counties Monaghan and Cavan, must be addressed. It is not simply a matter of considering the animals currently identified within those counties but the movement of animals. BSE is occurring in other counties in Munster and so on. From where did those animals originate? The origin is important and the traceability of that should now be in place.
The Deputy is aware that we have a comprehensive and effective traceability scheme in place. Each calf born, especially since 1998, is recorded and given a passport. The scheme was recently updated and all herd owners were communicated with. There was a very good response, although approximately 20,000 have still not responded to that census.
It would be in the best interests of all, especially herd owners, to have a tight traceability system, although the one we have in place is effective and is more advanced than that pertaining in any other EU member state. It is used for tracing cohort and feed cohort animals that might have had the same source of supply. All such cases are being followed up in a scientific way.
