Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 February 2024
299. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the number of cattle from controlled finishing units in the State slaughtered in Northern Ireland in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. [7236/24]
View answer300. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the number of cattle from feedlots in Northern Ireland, similar to controlled finishing units in this jurisdiction, slaughtered in this State in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. [7237/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together.
The Department defines certain herds as Controlled Finishing Units (CFUs) in the context of the Bovine TB Eradication Programme. This definition is unique to that programme and does not necessarily mirror the use of the term "feedlot" by the public and/or other institutions.
CFUs are subject to enhanced biosecurity measures as part of the TB Programme and can only sell direct to slaughter. DAFM does not collect data on the number of animals from CFUs in the state which go direct to slaughter in Northern Ireland (NI).
The Department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system captures data on bovine imports from NI but not on the herds from which they originate outside the state.
Import statistics are included in the Annual Bovine Statistics Report and those reports can be accessed at the following link.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/d5dc1-aim-bovine-statistics-reports/
The latest 2022 data shows that approximately 3,400 cattle were imported from NI for direct slaughter in this jurisdiction.
Statistics in respect of 2023 are expected to be available in May.
Additionally, a wide range of AIM data, excluding import information, is published on the Department's website at the following link.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/467e3-cattle-aim/#bovine-birth-and-movements-monthly-reports
