Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 February 2019
181. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason bovine feedlots are allowed here; the locations to which the cattle from the feedlots are sent; if the cattle are exported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8557/19]
View answerAs part of our TB eradication programme, beef finishing herds, if they meet the necessary criteria, are allowed to avail of a special status, termed “Feedlot”. When a herd meets the criteria to be regarded as a ‘Feedlot’ under the TB Eradication Programme, the herd is restricted under the TB Regulations and a special official supervisory and testing protocol is established. Such herds are not exempted from testing, reactor removal or disinfection requirements. Restricted Feedlots are TB tested at least once a year. This feedlot status arrangement allows the delivery of an effective level of disease risk management while controlling the risk of further disease spread in compliance with animal health legislation, and enabling business continuity in this particular type of enterprise through the inward movement of cattle.
Cattle from feedlot herds restricted under the TB Eradication programme are only permitted to move to a EU approved slaughter plant. Cattle from feedlots may not be exported.
