Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1247. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking to reduce the timeline for the removal and slaughter of bovine tuberculosis reactors in a herd, given that the timeline in the UK is ten days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1154/24]
View answerOne of the primary disease mitigation measures of the bovine TB eradication programme is the routine surveillance of all bovines for the presence of bovine TB through the use of the Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test, more commonly known as the 'skin test' and, if applicable, the removal of “reactor” animals identified in herds. When an animal is tested for bovine tuberculosis the veterinary practitioner makes two visits on separate days to complete the testing cycle.
My Department is notified of test results by the Private Veterinary Practitioner through the Animal Health Computer System. Once the testing cycle is complete and eligible reactors have been identified in a herd, the On Farm Market Valuation (OFMV) process begins.
The On Farm Market Valuation Scheme is the principal compensation measure available to farmers who experience a TB breakdown on their herd. The Scheme aims to compensate farmers up to the open market value of an animal as if they were not affected by disease, subject to ceilings. There are a number of steps in the removal process for which farmers and my Department have shared responsibility.
My Department works closely with stakeholders to identify if, and where efficiencies can be made. The following are an example of key functions within the process where my Department make continued improvements ensuring that the appropriate framework supports a timely removals process.
• A nationwide complement of suitably qualified independent valuers to ensure that valuations are completed efficiently.
• Strict deadlines for independent valuers to communicate their completed valuation reports to both the farmer and my Department for consideration
• The introduction of an electronic submission facility for key documentation allowing the farmer to signal their acceptance/rejection of a valuation.
• A dedicated team liaising with approved slaughter plants/knackeries to arrange for the destruction of animals at the earliest opportunity once a farmer has concluded the valuation process.
• A nationwide network of independent haulage contractors who operate a comprehensive transport network, moving animals to the relevant approved slaughter plants daily.
In addition to the above, my Department have recently introduced a text alert to farmers who are listed for valuation - reminding them of the option to submit their V8 and ER26x forms online. Farmers who utilise this online facility and submit documentation electronically will further reduce their reactor removal times.
The Compensation package available to farmers in Ireland who encounter bovine TB in their herd is one of the most comprehensive packages available in any jurisdiction, the programme provides financial support for both direct and indirect losses as a result of disease.
Unlike the UK, where animals are primarily valued via desktop valuation (based on market trends), all TB reactor animals disclosed in Ireland are valued on their own merits on the farm by suitably qualified independent Livestock valuers in line with open market values. The valuation process is efficient, the total timeframe allowable to complete the process is seven days.
In total, my Department removed 28,904 animals for slaughter as part of the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme in 2023. This represents a 23.5% increase when compared to the 23,402 animas removed as part of the OFMV Scheme in 2022. Despite the logistical challenges of removing considerably more animals, my Department officials have managed to reduce the removal time by almost half a day when compared to 2022. The national average removal time from test to slaughter in 2023 averaged at 17.8 days, which has reduced from 18.1 days average in 2022.
There are circumstances outside of my Departments control where the removal of reactor animals must be delayed, such as appeal cases where either party seeks a second live valuation of the affected animals before their removal, medicated animals who are observing the appropriate withdrawal period, inconclusive animals who may be required to undergo further Gamma Interferon (GIF) blood testing, and those reactor animals who are 90%+ of gestation and on animal health and welfare grounds, cannot be moved until they have calved on farm. All of these circumstances are also accounted for in average timeframe outlined above.
