asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his Department will help such farmers whose farms are locked up owing to reactors to dispose of their cattle or forward stores so that they may obtain prices in keeping with the up-to-date trading trends.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Trade.
17.
I presume the Deputy's question refers to the release of non-reactor cattle from herds in which the presence of either tuberculosis or brucellosis has been established.
As the Deputy will appreciate, these animals have been exposed to infection and may well be incubating the disease. It is essential therefore to ensure that they do not move to other herds until further testing shows that they do not carry the risk of infection. Otherwise there would be a very serious danger of the spread of disease.
However, should the owner of a restricted herd wish to dispose of any of his cattle directly for slaughter, permits for this purpose will be readily granted by the local district veterinary office of my Department.
Is the Minister aware that a herd owner with reactors is not allowed to dispose of his herd except for meat to be slaughtered in the factory? The price payable by factories is not in keeping with the price obtainable on the open market. Would the Minister not consider it desirable that his Department should mediate between the factories and those who have cattle for sale to ensure that herds locked up due to reactors would realise a fair and equitable price?
I should be very glad to do anything that could improve the price in such circumstances as these. However, any such movement of any infected animal or reactor must be hedged around with the greatest precautions possible. Otherwise we defeat the whole purpose of the eradication scheme for tuberculosis and brucellosis.
All I am asking the Minister is if his officials would buy from people locked up with reactor cattle that are ready for sale so that they will not be exposed to the one market only, the factory, where they are not getting a fair price.