Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2013
237. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has conducted any analysis on the level of animal mortality over the past number of months due to the extended winter and poor quality feeding; if there is any analysis into the prevalence of fluke in the national herd; and the steps he proposes to take to address this matter. [23291/13]
View answerThe number of cattle mortalities in the first three months of this year was up 26% on the same period last year. It should be noted that the operation of the National BVD Eradication Programme would have been responsible for some of this increase.
An increased incidence of liver fluke infection in sheep and cattle was anticipated in 2012 because of the increase in rainfall during the year. The risk was the subject of a liver fluke forecast and alert in a press release issued by my Department in October 2012 which is available on the DAFM website at:- http://agriculture.gov.ie/press/pressreleases/2012/October/title, 67193, en.html.
Losses in Sheep due to liver fluke infection, (accounting for 24.3% of cases submitted for post-mortem diagnosis to the Regional Veterinary Laboratories), were elevated this Spring when compared to previous Springs, bearing in mind that the peak incidence of deaths attributed to liver fluke in sheep occurs in the Autumn of each year. There was also an increased incidence of liver fluke infection in cattle, the more common effect of which is production loss such as reduced milk production and / or reduced weight gain rather than deaths.
The Department’s Veterinary Laboratory Service continues to be available to help farmers by providing diagnostic services on referral by private veterinary practices. In addition, in response to difficulties being experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder, I introduced a scheme on the 24th April last – the Imported Fodder Transport Scheme – to assist with transport costs in response associated with importation of forage from abroad. The scheme has been extended to 24 May 2013. Furthermore, emergency assistance continues to be made available under my Department’s early warning system to farmers whose animals are currently experiencing serious welfare issues and where the farmer him/herself is unable to cope with the situation.
