Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Written Answers. - Bovine Disease Controls.

Willie Penrose

Question:

230 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the rules and regulations regarding a person selling cattle, when the cattle are in the person's name and herd number, at a livestock mart or factory; if, under the various disease control regulations that are pertinent in this regard, the cheque should be issued to the vendor or the herd owner; if it can be issued to another person, such as an agent or otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25354/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Bovine animals moving out of a holding to a mart or meat factory must be properly identified, be accompanied by a valid passport and have passed a TB test within the previous 12 months. In addition, eligible animals, viz any animal aged 12 months or over except a castrate, moving out of a holding for sale on the open market must have passed a brucellosis blood test within the previous 30 days.

The herd number system is an administrative arrangement under the disease eradication schemes and is designed primarily for the purposes of disease control and is also used for recording cattle movements through the CMMS. It does not denote ownership of animals or land. The criteria used in assessing applications for herd numbers include independent management of the holding, separate housing and fodder, the availability of adequate testing facilities without the possibility of intermixing with cattle from any other herd. In effect a herd number is issued in respect of an epidemiological unit. The sale of cattle at livestock marts and abattoirs is governed by the conditions of sale operated by such outlets.